Overlooked in all of the campaign rhetoric about prosperity and easy living, was America's serious and troubling trade deficit. Our trade deficit is approaching unsustainable levels and no one knows for sure what the effects might be. This deficit could potentially lead to a protectionist backlash, foreign dumping of U.S. Treasury Bonds and other U.S. securities, or, at the very least, a sharp decline in the dollar. Gold would perform as a hedge against any of these three scenarios. America's Growing Private Debt.
Home equity is actually down, despite the rise in home ownership.
Bankruptcies are being filed at a record pace. All of this debt could spell trouble for the stock market down the road.