Russia’s Central Bank Delivers 200 bps Rate Cut as Inflation Slows

In an era of soaring grocery prices, several iconic brands are defying inflation by maintaining decades-old prices on signature items. Costco’s famous hot dog and soda combo remains at $1.50 – unchanged since 1985, while AriZona iced tea has held its 99-cent price tag since the company’s founding in 1992. Olive Garden’s Never Ending Pasta Bowl returns at $13.99, the same price for the fourth consecutive year, despite restaurant menu prices jumping over 30% since 2020. These inflation-proof items represent strategic brand decisions where companies sacrifice profit margins to build customer loyalty and reinforce their value proposition. Food prices increased

A stark economic warning from Moody’s Analytics reveals that two-thirds of U.S. states are either in recession, at high risk, or treading water – representing about 66% of America’s GDP. Chief economist Mark Zandi identifies 22 states already in trouble, including major economies like Massachusetts and Washington, while only 16 states continue expanding. The recession probability stands at 49% for the next year, with the economy most vulnerable in late 2025. Red flags are mounting: over half of U.S. industries are cutting jobs, and recent employment revisions show June’s job growth was actually just 14,000, not the initially reported 147,000.

“This Federal Reserve article examines the rare international cases where countries have used valuation gains from gold and foreign exchange reserves to generate funds. Over the past 30 years, only five countries have done this: Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Curacao and Saint Martin, and South Africa. The article reveals two main uses: central banks have used these proceeds to offset operating losses (Italy, Curacao and Saint Martin), while governments have used them to retire existing debt during fiscal challenges (South Africa, Lebanon, Germany). The potential for the U.S. is significant – revaluing America’s 261.5 million troy ounces of gold from the

Silver and platinum are dramatically outperforming gold in 2025, with CME futures data showing June gains of 9.5% and 28.2% respectively, compared to gold’s modest 1.1%. Year-to-date, silver is up 27% and platinum 30%, driven by booming industrial demand and supply deficits. Silver benefits from surging electronics, solar panel, and data center demand, while platinum gains from stricter auto emissions standards and Chinese jewelry buyers switching from expensive gold. Both metals trade at significant discounts to gold, with the gold-to-silver ratio hitting an 11-year high, signaling potential upside for investors seeking portfolio diversification beyond traditional gold holdings.