Some time ago, I said you might want to hold off buying a used car until June. But the way inflation in this industry is cooling -- in fact, I'd say used cars are on the brink of their own recession -- means there should be affordable values on the dealer lot pretty soon. Maybe February. Prices rose marginally in January; price cuts are probably around the corner. #CoSoFinance https://publish.manheim.com/en/services/consulting/used-vehicle-value-index.html

Despite today's weak bounce in the buck, the dollar downtrend continues. A fight over the debt ceiling probably doesn't help. Is this fuel for gold and silver going higher? Hell, yeah! #CoSoFinance

Here's another sign that the big bull market in energy stocks -- which my subscribers have enjoyed the past two years -- still has room to run. Despite massive outperformance relative to S&P 500 in 2022, the Energy sector’s weight in overall index is only back to where it was a few years ago #Energy #oil #CoSoFinance

I mentioned the drop in existing home sales earlier. In December, those sales were down -1.5% m/m vs. -3.4% est. & -7.9% prior (rev down from -7.7%). Importantly, as you can see on this chart, the level is now back to where it was in 2010. The market is definitely cooling. Is it in recession, though? I think so. #CoSoFinance

From Ryan Detrick: Your average January for the S&P 500 tends to be a tad weak for about a week or so, before strength late in the month. #CoSoFinance

Scientists are trying to make Marjorie Taylor Green cry again. In the largest US study so far, researchers tracked trans teens for two years and found strong mental-health benefits to hormone therapy https://trib.al/n3Mmqt2

Existing home sales fell for the 11th consecutive month in December, hitting the slowest pace since November 2010 #RealEstate #CoSoFinance https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/20/existing-home-sales-drop-in-december-to-slowest-pace-since-2010.html

Interesting story. I know a bike helmet has saved me from serious injury. https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/bike-helmets-cyclist-deaths-do-you-need-to-wear.html

#Gold prices end at highest since April after back-to-back losses https://marketwatch.com/story/gold-steadies-below-9-month-high-11674131243

From
Charlie Bilello: US Building Permits hit a 31-month low in December, down 30% year-over-year. Tends to be a leading indicator for the economy, recessionary signals continue to build. #CoSoFinance

If you're still on the blue bird site, here's a good follow.

Another Producer Price Index (PPI) chart: You can see a plunge in 6m annualized % change for PPI … from peak of +25.3% to now -5.5%. That's right. Negative. That doesn't mean all prices are falling (though many are). But the rate of increase has fallen off a cliff. #CoSoFinance

#Inflation is rolling over. PPI inflation for finished goods continues to fall, with year/year rate coming down to +9% in December #CoSoFinance

Yesterday, we heard that Christmas retail sales were terrible. But were they really? Even though retail sales lost momentum heading into end of 2022, they increased by 7.2% throughout entire year, which was strongest (nominal) annual gain since 2004 (if excluding huge post-lockdown jump in 2021). As to why sales dipped in December -- I'd look at the end of Child Tax Credit payments #CoSoFinance