- Israel and Hamas are currently at war after a series of surprise terror attacks were launched earlier this month.
- The conflict could expand to include countries like Iran, which would constrict oil supply and possibly send the U.S. and the world into a recession, according to experts who spoke to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
- “International oil prices would spike to over $100 a barrel on supply disruption concerns and financial markets would be rattled by heightened geopolitical uncertainty,” Desmond Lachman, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told the DCNF.
(Daily Caller)—The conflict between Israel and Hamas could spell economic disaster for the global economy and for Americans if it further destabilizes the Middle East, according to experts who spoke with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Middle East is embroiled in tension after Hamas launched a series of surprise terror attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in Israel declaring war and preparing for a possible ground invasion into Gaza. An escalation to include neighboring states like Iran could lead to huge oil price spikes, higher inflation and a possible U.S. and world recession, according to experts who spoke to the DCNF.
“The way that the Israel-Hamas crisis affects U.S. households depends very much on how the conflict evolves,” Desmond Lachman, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told the DCNF. “If it is confined to Israel and Hamas, the impact on the U.S. household would be negligible. This appears to be the market’s expectation, as indicated by the fact that oil prices have not increased very much. On the other hand, if the conflict were to become region-wide and especially if it were to include Iran, the U.S. household would be adversely affected in a meaningful way.”
Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria have launched a number of mostly unsuccessful drone and rocket attacks on bases hosting U.S. troops since Oct. 17. Military and defense leaders believe that Iran is undertaking these attacks to provoke the U.S. into outright war in order to cascade the current Israel-Hamas conflict across the Middle East.
“Limited to Israel and Palestine, the economic implications of the conflict would likely be minimal,” Peter Earle, economist at the American Institute for Economic Research, told the DCNF. “But because numerous nations are aligning behind the combatants amid a broader division, there are numerous economic implications. The recent coalescence of BRICS-11, where Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa were joined by Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia is explicitly a rampart against Western influence.”
“Most, if not all, of the BRICS-11 are on the other side of the table (or barbed wire) from the US and much of Europe in this conflict,” Earle continued. “So for U.S. consumers, some near-term economic consequences may involve oil (and thus gasoline) prices, the prices and availability of goods imported from China and Brazil (among others), and financial market volatility on 401Ks.”
The coalition added six new countries at the most recent BRICS summit in August, including Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the group as the “new world order,” with the summit also featuring calls to abandon the dollar as the world reserve currency.
“International oil prices would spike to over $100 a barrel on supply disruption concerns and financial markets would be rattled by heightened geopolitical uncertainty,” Lachman told the DCNF. “Higher oil prices would lead to higher gasoline prices which in turn would be reflected in headline inflation. That would make the Fed’s job all the more difficult in that it would prevent the Fed from reducing interest rates anytime soon.”
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Watch Americans reaction to being asked to fight alongside Hamashttps://t.co/N5U5vWtWnI
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 27, 2023
The price of oil currently stands at around $85 a barrel, peaking earlier in October at $89.37 per barrel, which was up from a low this year of $66.74 in March, according to Market Insider. The Biden administration recently sought to refill the strategic petroleum reserve at the high price of $79 a barrel after it was depleted of much of its supply to address high gasoline prices.
Inflation has remained persistently high after peaking at 9.1% in June 2022 and then decelerating down to 3.7% for both September and August, despite the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target. The price of fuel oil has contributed significantly to the inflation seen in recent months, increasing 8.5% month-over-month in September and 9.1% for the month in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“If two or more major oil-producing nations got into a shooting war, and if they began targeting one another’s oil production facilities, it would send global energy prices skyrocketing,” Earle told the DCNF. “That, plus the numerous consequential impacts, would likely tip an already vulnerable US economy into a recession. It’s quite possible it would also undo a substantial amount of the disinflation which the Fed’s rate hikes have caused. Not only would rising oil prices result in rising prices for a broadening number of goods and services, including transportation, but the Fed would likely lower interest rates, once again expanding the money supply.”
The Fed, in an attempt to bring down inflation, has raised rates to a 22-year high following 11 hikes since March 2022, bringing the federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% and 5.50%. The Fed will have a chance to change its rate at the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee, which will take place over Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
“The bottom line is that if the conflict were to spread we would very likely get both higher U.S. inflation and a U.S. and world economic recession,” Lachman told the DCNF.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
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- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
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In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.