Investors are once again concerned that the economy of the United States could dip far enough into a recession as recent jobs data shows a slowdown in new job creation and an increase in jobless claims.
According to the Department of Labor‘s report, job openings slipped to 9.9 million in February, the lowest since May 2021. This is also down from a revised 10.6 million new jobs created in the prior month.
Economic analysts note that they expected job creation to slow down drastically this year after 2021 became the best year for job creation on record and 2022 saw the Federal Reserve continuously raise its benchmark interest rate in a bid to corral inflation. This has resulted in a massive slowdown of the economy that the Fed believes is necessary to stop inflation. (Related: American banks are sitting on a TIME BOMB of $1.7 trillion in unrealized losses.)
To add to the concerns of investors, recent reports show stronger-than-expected jobless claims. In the seven days preceding April 1, initial jobless claims totaled 228,000.
This is down from a revised 246,000 from the prior week. However, two weeks ago, the federal government predicted that initial jobless claims would drop to around 198,000.
The massive 48,000 upward revision for the week of March 25 reflects the government’s attempt to change the formula for seasonal adjustments. This change now shows jobless claims to be significantly higher in early 2023 than previously reported, which could reflect the massive wave of corporate layoffs that government reports had not shown in their data previously.
Stocks seeing declines as recession fears rise
Two of America’s main stock indexes, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, dropped sharply on Wednesday, April 5, after a growing wave of weak economic data deepened the concerns of the stock market that the U.S. economy might tip into a recession.
The S&P 500 declined by 0.25 percent, ending the session at 4,090.38 points. The Nasdaq fell by 1.07 percent, down to 11,996.86 points.
Of the 11 main sector indexes in the S&P 500, seven declined – Information Technology, Financials, Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services, Materials and Real Estate.
“It looks pretty clear that we are going to see parts of the economy break and we are heading for a recession,” warned Edward Moya, a senior market analyst for the Americas at foreign exchange company Oanda Corporation in New York. “We forget that there’s also a banking crisis going on, so there’s going to be some pain that’s really going to cripple small and medium businesses. We are going to see some tough times and are probably going to see this play out in markets.”
“We may have transitioned from the notion that ‘bad news is good news’ to ‘bad news is bad news,’” said Jay Hatfield, chief executive officer and portfolio manager at investment firm InfraCap in New York. “Fear about a recession is the dominant theme.”
Reflecting concerns about the deteriorating state of the economy and the recent turmoil in the banking industry, interest rate futures predict a 61 percent chance that the Fed will cut interest rates from current levels by the end of its meeting in July, implying a desire to jumpstart the economy following over a year of interest rate increases to avoid a recession.
Learn more about the deteriorating state of the American economy at MarketCrash.news.
Watch this clip from “Barron’s Roundtable” on Fox Business as Bank of America Securities Head of U.S. Economics Michael Gapen discusses his predictions for a recession in the United States.
This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- PULLING THE PLUG: Another $126 billion pulled by depositors from US banks, Federal Reserve data shows.
- Inflation remains a problem for middle- and lower-income Americans as Biden’s Federal Reserve keeps raising interest rates.
- Jobless claims soar to five-month high as recession signals blare.
- Dr. Doom warns: Perfect storm of recession, debt crisis and inflation to hit markets.
- Biden’s economy: Major companies continue to lay off thousands of workers as recession worsens.
Sources include:
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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
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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.
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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.