Commodities, Business & Shipping (and Tariffs)

Welcome to the Precious Metals Bug Forums

Welcome to the PMBug forums - a watering hole for folks interested in gold, silver, precious metals, sound money, investing, market and economic news, central bank monetary policies, politics and more.

Why not register an account and join the discussions? When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no Google ads, market data/charts, access to trade/barter with the community and much more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

Fearnleys Week 20


 

I just got back from my monthly voyage to Walmart. Nearly all of the $250 bill was food, except for pants, dishwasher gel, and eye drops. So how much do tariffs affect my price of dairy, frozen dinners, fish sticks, pizza rolls, corn dogs, hot dogs, flour, sugar, hamburger and hot dog buns, saltine crackers, and bottled water?

The shredded coconut is obviously imported, and each three dollar bag might go up some. I think the 14 ounce bag was three and a quarter.

Okay, if the price of imported goods is a big deal, why not go back to "Buy American" like you did before?
 
Okay, if the price of imported goods is a big deal, why not go back to "Buy American" like you did before?

I don't think the prices have gone up yet. Maybe in 3 or 4 weeks. I hit Shoprite several days ago. Fully stocked shelves, prices ok. Just brought on sale stuff. Just got a Sam's Club order delivered a few hours ago. The order was 90 some bucks, all on sale stuff. Locally I haven't seen any price increases yet. I'm hoping they don't come but ya never know.
 

 

 

Stock futures rise as S&P 500 tries to extend rally to five days: Live updates​

Stock futures rose Friday after the S&P 500 posted a four-day rally on the back of U.S. and China’s temporary tariff cuts and encouraging inflation reports.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 131 points, or 0.3%. S&P 500 futures gained 0.2% along with Nasdaq-100 futures.

Stocks have made a strong comeback since U.S. and Chinese officials earlier this week agreed on a 90-day truce in their tariff measures, which eased investors’ fears of escalating global trade tensions and rising risk to the economy.

More:

 

Walmart, Shein, Target, and other major brands that say Trump's tariffs are pushing them to raise prices​

  • Trump's tariffs have led some companies to announce that they plan to raise prices.
  • Even before his so-called "Liberation Day," companies warned they would pass costs on to shoppers.
  • BI is keeping track of companies that said they'd raise prices due to tariffs.
Prices are expected to go up this year as many companies signal plans to raise them in response to President Donald Trump's slew of tariffs.

While firms raise prices for many reasons, some were blaming price hikes on tariffs long before Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" on April 2, during which he announced a 10% baseline tariff on imports from most countries, except Canada and Mexico, and a host of "reciprocal" tariffs on top of that.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...S&cvid=32c2f82f68bf47728eff308b972004fe&ei=22
 

Rare earths race heats up with US-Saudi deal and Shenghe acquisition​

SYDNEY/TOKYO -- U.S. rare earths company MP Materials has signed an initial agreement with Saudi miner Maaden to "explore" developing a rare earths industry in the Middle Eastern kingdom.

The agreement, announced Wednesday, came as major Chinese rare earths player Shenghe Resources -- a strategic investor in MP -- said it will acquire Australian-listed explorer Peak Rare Earths.

The two moves underscore the increasingly heated race to secure supplies of rare earths, as China moves to secure feedstock for its dominant processing industry and other countries work to develop alternate supply chains for the materials.

More:

 
Walmart did not get into my radar until recently, about three decades ago. Their spiel, from the old guy (Sam?), was to source American when possible. Great, I'll get behind that.

Then I guess Sam's plan was hurled aside and they went to China at each and every possibility. Screw the American suppliers.

If tariffs affect their supply chain, I think they bought, paid for, and deserve this outcome. They hitched their wagon to China. It's like putting your bet on red in roulette. If you lose, you have NO reason to complain. You bet, you lost. Shut up about it.

Many may remember my recent post about buying at WM. I buy there every month, more or less.
 


 
Northing to see, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab. Half way through.........it's pretty good but a bit long. I'm listening in segments. Lot of different subjects discussed.

At the Bar with Sal from What's Going on With shipping​

Streamed live on May 15, 2025
Sal and I attended an event at the Naval war college. Then we went to the bar. This is what happened.


1:42:47

Here's where they're at:

 

How U.S. Supply Chains Are Under Attack By Cargo Theft Criminals | Full Documentary​

May 9, 2025 #CNBC
In an exclusive investigative documentary, End of the Road, CNBC reveals how criminal gangs operating from overseas are attacking America’s supply chain through cargo theft. The scheme involves deception and fraud against the brokers who arrange shipments and the carriers who move the loads. Cargo theft has surged to record levels with estimated annual losses topping $1 billion, and industry experts point to the explosion in these schemes where criminals impersonate, and steal, the identity of a company. At the same time, thieves are brazenly stealing from parked trucks, warehouses and trains. The most targeted goods are food and beverage followed by electronics. Federal legislation is pending that would set up a federal/state cargo theft task force, but in the meantime, the problem persists across the country with California the hot spot. As part of our investigation, we traveled around the country and will show the fraud happening in real time and talk by phone to one of the fraudsters.


27:13
 
 
Back
Top Bottom