Friday
This is a must read – in its entirety. It applies to you, wherever you live. When the Fed raises rates, then so does the rest of the world. The demand and supply destruction formula described applies to YOU.
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February 13, 2023/0 Comments/by Monetary Metals
If you listen to financial pundits talking about the Federal Reserve and the current state of the markets you might hear this term mentioned:
“Demand destruction.”
What is it? And what does it mean for you and me?
We’ll first discuss the mainstream understanding of the concept and then unpack why it’s more nefarious than you think.
The Mainstream (Wrong) Understanding of Demand Destruction
The mainstream idea goes something like this: The Federal Reserve stimulated economic activity when the markets were frozen from Covid, but now the economy is overstimulated. It’s too hot, like an overheating car engine.
People are spending too much money, and the prices of things are going up–inflation. The economy needs to cool down, and not overheat.
The Fed stimulates by lowering interest rates. Logically, the playbook for un-stimulating, and cooling things down, is to hike interest rates. Hiking interest rates tightens up credit, reduces demand, and therefore should brings prices down.
Seems plausible enough. But let’s dive deeper.
The Economic (Real) Meaning of Demand Destruction
Let’s start with a basic question to cut through all the jargon and economic euphemisms.
Who constitutes demand for goods and services in the economy?
YOU!
When the Fed speaks about needing to reduce demand to lower the prices of goods and services, they’re referring to YOU!
The word “economy” is just a term of convenience to describe the trillions of market transactions that involve individuals, you and me.
“The Economy” can’t read a blog post, earn interest on gold, or be unemployed. But all three of those things can happen to you (hopefully not #3!).
Read it all HERE