Author: Money Mechanics

Real gross domestic product for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands increased 16.7 percent in 2022 and 5.1 percent in 2021 after decreasing 29.1 percent in 2020, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (table 1.3). These statistics were developed under the Statistical Improvement Program funded by the Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Gross domestic product for 2022 The growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) from 2021 to 2022 reflected increases in exports, government spending, and private fixed investment (chart 1). These increases were partly offset by…

are trading at $39.00 (+2.42%) as of this morning session, having staged a decisive breakout from consolidation. The rally began with a surge of buying pressure as price climbed above the daily VC PMI ($38.43), and quickly accelerated once it cleared the weekly Sell 1 ($38.67) and daily Sell 1 ($38.84) resistance bands. The breakout candle was accompanied by a sharp increase in volume, a clear indication of institutional accumulation. With momentum now carrying the market into the $39.00–$39.10 zone (Daily Sell 2), silver is poised at a pivotal junction where the next wave of direction will be determined. VC…

As we know, the FED held rates steady on 7/30, Powell said interest rates are in the right place to manage continued uncertainty around tariffs and inflation tampering expectations for a rate cut in September. Powell indicated, “There are many uncertainties to resolve.” Powell also stated that it does not feel like we are very close to the end of any resolution regarding tariffs and inflation. MUNI yields continue to be elevated, and we are buyers here based on pricing. Predicting “when rates will come down” is something we cannot do, however the thoughts are that rates will come down…

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its April 2025 Inflation report on May 13th, 2025. The report showed that Annual Inflation was down from 2.4% in March to to 2.3% in April.Calculated to two digits, it was  2.39% in March and 2.31% in April. Although this month’s numbers look good, there is a distinct possibility that low inflation won’t last. (See this month’s MIP).April’s Inflation Prediction:At 2.31%, April inflation numbers came in between last month’s “likely low” and “extreme low” projections.This Month’s MIPThe current MIP projection shows that inflation could rise through August.This is because those months were much…

Almost two years have passed since OpenAI released GPT-3.5 to great fanfare. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, compared the technology’s arrival to his first encounter with the graphical user interface—a breakthrough that reshaped personal computing—in the 1980s. Others predicted that generative artificial intelligence (ai) would rapidly transform economies around the world, leaving many millions unemployed. Yet despite the hype and the worries, ai’s impact has been muted thus far. According to America’s Census Bureau, only 6% of businesses use AI to produce goods and services. Output and labour-productivity growth, meanwhile, remain far below the soaring heights of the computer age…

Key Takeaways Mortgage rate forecasts for the end of this year and next year are only modestly lower than current rates. The Federal Reserve is likely to lower interest rates in September, but 2025 rate cuts are not guaranteed. And even with a rate cut, mortgage rates may not drop. If you find a home you like and the timing fits your finances, it’s likely smart to go ahead and buy, as you’re not assured any payoff from waiting. If you’re shopping for a newly constructed home, buying soon is even more strongly recommended, given potential inflation effects. Remember: If…

Robert Kiyosaki, best known as the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has spent decades exploring why some people build wealth while others struggle financially. In a post on X, he argues that the answer often comes down to a simple truth: too many people ignore the basic “laws of money.” Breaking these rules, he warns, is what keeps many stuck in poverty.In the post he laid out his understanding of the two most important laws of money. He argued that the poor often violate these laws, leading to their financial struggles.The first law, according to Kiyosaki, is Gresham’s Law, which states…

In-brief analysis July 7, 2025 In 2024, the United States imported about 17% of its domestic energy supply, half of the record share set in 2006 and the lowest share since 1985, according to our Monthly Energy Review. The decline in imports’ share of supply in the previous two decades is attributable to both an increase in domestic energy production and a decrease in energy imports since 2006. U.S. energy supply comes from three sources: domestic energy production, energy imports from other countries, and any energy brought out of storage. In 2024, for the third…

A sign outside Brooklyn coffee shop Clever Blend offers a $6 gelato and espresso “recession special.”Lisa Kailai Han | CNBCAs fears of a slowing economy lurk in the background, some businesses are taking notice and bringing back so-called recession specials.Look up the term “recession specials” through Google’s search engine, and the list of results will include entries from the Great Recession nearly 20 years ago.Consider this Grub Street article from 2008 slugged “Recession Specials: Your Definitive Guide.” Or this 2009 story from The New York Times, which details the mealtime recession specials restaurants across New York offered as an act…

In a new blog post, OpenAI warns against “unauthorized opportunities to gain exposure to OpenAI through a variety of means,” including special purpose vehicles, known as SPVs. “We urge you to be careful if you are contacted by a firm that purports to have access to OpenAI, including through the sale of an SPV interest with exposure to OpenAI equity,” the company writes. The blog post acknowledges that “not every offer of OpenAI equity […] is problematic” but says firms may be “attempting to circumvent our transfer restrictions.” “If so, the sale will not be recognized and carry no economic…