This is definitely where the math has changed! Just read this this morning. Never mind the locals and their needs. “. . . huge income streams are available to those involved in migrant accommodation and the asylum system in Ireland is now an entirely new economic sector. . . . massively funded overseas corporations, some of them partnered with Irish companies, have seen this as a lucrative area, surpassing even in some cases their other interests in buying up Irish property that then becomes unavailable for working people even with mortgage approval . . . “. https://gript.ie/who-are-the-companies-who-regard-ballsbridge-and-other-asylum-centres-as-prime-investments/
So it’s not just US taxpayers funding unwanted, excessive immigration. What’s so amazing is that a reliable poll (pew) has determined 75% of the Irish public say there is enough, there have been many peaceful protests aswell, yet Trudeau wanna be Varadkar admonishes them and tells the people no one has a right to veto who comes into their communities.
And at a big birthday party last weekend a smoked salmon liberal lamented that there are now fewer democracies than some decades ago - I felt like saying, yeah, no kidding. But he wouldn’t have gotten the joke.
I read Herb Greenberg’s article about price/volume, which resonated (or hit different, as the kids say). Is it not inevitable that the consumer is about to cry uncle, which means even the blue-chip consumer-facing companies lose their pricing power. And when that happens, to make numbers and keep margins from eroding too greatly, corporations will begin layoffs.
The downward spiral from there is easy to envision. Unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcies, the gusher of $$ into passive index products slows to a relative trickle. I would like to know how we avoid this fate -- in the intermediate term, not forever -- but I can’t come up with a plausible alternate scenario. And thus my IRA remains almost half in the Schwab money market, for now content with the 5% yield; a really nice buying opportunity is coming, for those fortunate enough to be able to capitalize on it.
the bit about Ireland - this was in the news this week also, Irelands largest landlord
"replace five company directors and conduct a review that would lead to the sale within 24 months of the company’s 3,734 homes – as a whole or in lots"
ironically Canadian Pension Funds are heavily invested in the gouging that goes on in Ireland where it now costs around 1200 a month for a double room in a shared house
Also Canada :
Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
Effective as of January 1, 2023, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”) prevents non-Canadians from buying residential property in Canada for 2 years.
Of that 1.59 trillion in discretionary spending, I believe that .885 is military and .705 is everything else. Shouldn't it at least be the other way around? Call me cynical, but it doesn't seem like Congress is acting in our best interests.
That bit where they raise the insurance premiums to the point where so many can’t pay that the rest void their mortgages…….kinda smacks of the Great Taking.
Not that insurance companies and banks might be in cahoots…..or have common board members, or anything far fetched like that.
The insurance problem for HOAs has been bad since the Florida condo collapse. I own a condo but in a huge HOA with over five hundred units so at least there is scale and diversification for delinquent dues problems. The scary HOAs are the small buildings with ten or fifteen units. I’d never own in such a building.
Curious to see how this Pepsi/Carrefour plays out. Mind you, the French have lots of alternate pretty cool snacks and tasty real food. I still have fond memories of what seemed like a mile long cheese counter in a French supermarket. Is there a Pepsi Index like the Big Mac Index ?
That was an interesting bit of news. In Ireland Coke has never been cheaper - and even I - a former Coke employee but turned ‘Gamekeeper’ as regards my kids’ dental health - have purchased it (the idea being that it’s cheaper than paying as you go on take-out nights). But unless it’s locked up, it’s consumed (creating domestic stock pressure is the art of the game in junk food).
The Pepsi marketing team must be missing the meaning of ‘discretionary’ or failing to appreciate junk food as a discretionary spend - certainly as it relates to bulk buying in the supermarket. Be interesting to see if the higher prices last.
That’s a massive increase. At full price 1.5L is €3.25 which inc 23% VAT. But sales promotions seem permanent these days - I got 20 cans Coke for €10 at Lidl. Price important for driving volume.
Long before inflation became officially a thing I found groceries expensive when I visited the US (and packaging sizes massive). Clothes were dirt cheap though which was great when the boys were small. (Dollar weak then vs euro).
Here in Oz, two 1.25 l Coke for A$5.30 ... looked it up as I rarely drink it. Coffee is my poison of choice. Mineral water isn’t much “cheaper”. Dunno what it was before. Kleenex used to be $1, now over $2.
This is definitely where the math has changed! Just read this this morning. Never mind the locals and their needs. “. . . huge income streams are available to those involved in migrant accommodation and the asylum system in Ireland is now an entirely new economic sector. . . . massively funded overseas corporations, some of them partnered with Irish companies, have seen this as a lucrative area, surpassing even in some cases their other interests in buying up Irish property that then becomes unavailable for working people even with mortgage approval . . . “. https://gript.ie/who-are-the-companies-who-regard-ballsbridge-and-other-asylum-centres-as-prime-investments/
So it’s not just US taxpayers funding unwanted, excessive immigration. What’s so amazing is that a reliable poll (pew) has determined 75% of the Irish public say there is enough, there have been many peaceful protests aswell, yet Trudeau wanna be Varadkar admonishes them and tells the people no one has a right to veto who comes into their communities.
And at a big birthday party last weekend a smoked salmon liberal lamented that there are now fewer democracies than some decades ago - I felt like saying, yeah, no kidding. But he wouldn’t have gotten the joke.
I read Herb Greenberg’s article about price/volume, which resonated (or hit different, as the kids say). Is it not inevitable that the consumer is about to cry uncle, which means even the blue-chip consumer-facing companies lose their pricing power. And when that happens, to make numbers and keep margins from eroding too greatly, corporations will begin layoffs.
The downward spiral from there is easy to envision. Unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcies, the gusher of $$ into passive index products slows to a relative trickle. I would like to know how we avoid this fate -- in the intermediate term, not forever -- but I can’t come up with a plausible alternate scenario. And thus my IRA remains almost half in the Schwab money market, for now content with the 5% yield; a really nice buying opportunity is coming, for those fortunate enough to be able to capitalize on it.
the bit about Ireland - this was in the news this week also, Irelands largest landlord
"replace five company directors and conduct a review that would lead to the sale within 24 months of the company’s 3,734 homes – as a whole or in lots"
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/01/09/are-days-numbered-for-last-irish-reit-as-it-bows-to-strategic-review/
ironically Canadian Pension Funds are heavily invested in the gouging that goes on in Ireland where it now costs around 1200 a month for a double room in a shared house
Also Canada :
Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
Effective as of January 1, 2023, the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”) prevents non-Canadians from buying residential property in Canada for 2 years.
Of that 1.59 trillion in discretionary spending, I believe that .885 is military and .705 is everything else. Shouldn't it at least be the other way around? Call me cynical, but it doesn't seem like Congress is acting in our best interests.
That bit where they raise the insurance premiums to the point where so many can’t pay that the rest void their mortgages…….kinda smacks of the Great Taking.
Not that insurance companies and banks might be in cahoots…..or have common board members, or anything far fetched like that.
The insurance problem for HOAs has been bad since the Florida condo collapse. I own a condo but in a huge HOA with over five hundred units so at least there is scale and diversification for delinquent dues problems. The scary HOAs are the small buildings with ten or fifteen units. I’d never own in such a building.
Curious to see how this Pepsi/Carrefour plays out. Mind you, the French have lots of alternate pretty cool snacks and tasty real food. I still have fond memories of what seemed like a mile long cheese counter in a French supermarket. Is there a Pepsi Index like the Big Mac Index ?
That was an interesting bit of news. In Ireland Coke has never been cheaper - and even I - a former Coke employee but turned ‘Gamekeeper’ as regards my kids’ dental health - have purchased it (the idea being that it’s cheaper than paying as you go on take-out nights). But unless it’s locked up, it’s consumed (creating domestic stock pressure is the art of the game in junk food).
The Pepsi marketing team must be missing the meaning of ‘discretionary’ or failing to appreciate junk food as a discretionary spend - certainly as it relates to bulk buying in the supermarket. Be interesting to see if the higher prices last.
In CA, where I am, a Coke 1.5L bottle that was .89 a few years ago, on sale, is now $2.77, on sale.
That’s a massive increase. At full price 1.5L is €3.25 which inc 23% VAT. But sales promotions seem permanent these days - I got 20 cans Coke for €10 at Lidl. Price important for driving volume.
Long before inflation became officially a thing I found groceries expensive when I visited the US (and packaging sizes massive). Clothes were dirt cheap though which was great when the boys were small. (Dollar weak then vs euro).
Here in Oz, two 1.25 l Coke for A$5.30 ... looked it up as I rarely drink it. Coffee is my poison of choice. Mineral water isn’t much “cheaper”. Dunno what it was before. Kleenex used to be $1, now over $2.
Best parts of the day - quality coffee in the morning and a lovely glass of wine at night. Everything else is just filler! Lol