U.S. News: Inflation Is Going to Rise; Here's How to Protect Yourself

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Something ugly is set to make a comeback: inflation.

It won't be like that seen in the 1970s when lava lamps and polyester suits only added to the hideous economic malaise.

This time it will be subdued in comparison, but still higher than it has been in recent years. Read more here.

Constable Confidential: 2016 NYFWA Annual Follies Address

By SIMON CONSTABLE



2016 Follies Address from Constable Confidential on Vimeo.

John Batchelor Show: Trump As “Brexit Plus, Plus, Plus” + Retraining American Workers.

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Forbes Video: No, A Global Recession Isn't Imminent

By SIMON CONSTABLE
Many were shocked by Donald Trump beating Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House. Still, there is no need for hysteria. Unfortunately, some people couldn’t contain themselves.
Notably, there have been claims that the result of the vote will be instant economic disaster, not just for the U.S., but for the entire world.

Fortunately, things are rarely so simple. When assertions seem extreme, it is often best to ask a level-headed expert. I picked one of the best in the business: Lakshman Achuthan, co-founder of the Economic Cycle Research Institute.Read more here.

U.S. News: Why Knowledge is More Important Than the Name of Your College

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Does it make sense to pay big money to attend a fancy college? Maybe not. But as with so many things, the devil is in the details.

First, here's a reminder of how much a top name college can cost. Tuition for an undergraduate degree at Harvard University is $43,280 for the current school year. Plus, there are some hefty fees and the cost of housing, eating, books and other things. The total comes to as much as $72,100, according to Harvard's website.

Of course, the degree program will take four years, and tuition costs will likely increase if history is anything to go by. So figure on around $300,000 when all is said and done; in other words, the price of a nice house. Read more here.

Photo by Pickawood on Unsplash

WSJ: ETFs That Hold Commodities Could Cause Trouble

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Could exchange-traded funds that hold physical commodities exacerbate price spikes or drops?

The potential is there, some experts say, and in fact may have happened already.

Unlike other investments that track the price of materials, physically backed ETFs are structured in a way that could change the underlying supply-and-demand dynamics in what are often thin markets. Read more here.

Photo by Peter F on Unsplash

WSJ: What Is ‘Illiquidity Premium’?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Even with an expected Federal Reserve interest-rate increase, more bond-market investors may be coming around to the idea that rates will stay around historic lows longer than they thought. That raises a question about what to do now: Where can investors find better yields for their portfolios, without sacrificing quality? Read more here.