When you live on a fixed income, it’s a terrifying moment when you wonder if you’ll have enough money for the rest of your life. What’s even more frightening is the day you retire and the years leading up to it, when you can’t stop wondering, “Will I have enough?” What should you do? Do […]

Will You Have Enough?
E.J. Smith

The Financial Times reports that Saudi Arabia is exploring a regional non-aggression pact with Iran, modeled partly on the Cold War-era Helsinki Accords, as Gulf states prepare for a postwar Middle East after the US-Israel conflict with Tehran. The proposal aims to reduce regional tensions, prevent future conflict, and reshape security cooperation as concerns grow […]

Saudi Arabia Explores Regional Non-Aggression Pact With Iran
Dick Young

US import prices rose 1.9% in April, driven by a sharp 16.3% jump in fuel import costs and continued increases in nonfuel goods, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Export prices climbed even faster, rising 3.3% for the month and 8.8% year-over-year, marking the strongest annual increase since 2022. Fuel imports were a major […]

Fuel and Semiconductor Prices Push US Trade Inflation Higher
Dick Young

The New York Times reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare trip to Cuba to meet Cuban intelligence and government officials. The visit comes as Cuba faces severe economic problems, including shortages, blackouts, and public unrest, while relations with the US remain strained. Ratcliffe reportedly delivered a message from President Donald Trump that […]

US Sends Tough Message to Havana in High-Level CIA Trip
Dick Young

Fortune reports that nearly 49,000 Lake Tahoe residents could lose most of their electricity supply after Nevada utility NV Energy announced it will stop providing power to Liberty Utilities by May 2027. The move comes as power demand from AI data centers in northern Nevada surges, with companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft expanding operations […]

AI Data Center Boom Pushes Tahoe Residents Off the Grid
Young Research

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reports that new industry drilling and geological data have prompted a reassessment of the Bossier Formation, a deep shale gas system beneath the Gulf Coast. The formation, which has already produced about 3.8 trillion cubic feet of gas, is now believed to contain additional undiscovered resources in deeper, highly pressurized […]

Deep Gulf Coast Formation Could Hold Significant Additional Natural Gas Reserves
Young Research

OK, Your Survival Guy’s latest RAGE Gauge is in, and it’s a mixed bag. What did you expect me to say? Let’s dig into this. Recently, when Your Survival Guy and Gal were out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, sitting at the bar, we chatted with a nice, so we thought, couple […]

Your Survival Guy’s RAGE Gauge: Life in the Information Age
E.J. Smith

The Senate has confirmed Kevin Warsh as the new Chairman of the Federal Reserve for the next four years and for a 14-year term as a governor. You know that my preference is to end the Fed. The central bank has a 100% error rate. But as long as it exists, aiming to give the […]

There’s a New Fed Chair in Town
Dick Young

A new US Geological Survey (USGS) study published in Natural Resources Research estimates that the Appalachian region contains large lithium resources, including about 1.43 million metric tons of lithium oxide in the southern Appalachians and 900,000 metric tons in the north. The lithium is found in pegmatite rock formations, particularly in areas across the Carolinas, […]

New Assessment Highlights Large US Domestic Lithium Potential
Dick Young

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company expects the global semiconductor market to exceed $1.5 trillion by 2030, raising its earlier forecast of $1 trillion, driven mainly by demand from AI and high-performance computing. The company said AI and HPC will account for about 55% of total chip demand, with smartphones and automotive making up most of the […]

TSMC Sees $1.5 Trillion Global Chip Market Driven by AI Boom
Young Research

The Robin Report explains that TikTok Shop (TTS) is rapidly reshaping beauty e-commerce by shifting sales away from traditional advertising and toward short-form, creator-led videos. These clips—often simple tutorials or before-and-after demonstrations—drive purchases based on engagement signals like watch time, replays, and comments rather than polished production value. The trend emphasizes the outsized role of […]

TikTok Shop Reshapes Beauty Sales Through Viral Creator Content
Young Research

The US Energy Information Administration forecasts that utility-scale solar power generation in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) will surpass coal generation for the first time on an annual basis in 2026. Solar generation is expected to reach 78 billion kilowatt-hours compared with 60 billion kilowatt-hours from coal. The shift is being driven by […]

Solar Power Set to Overtake Coal in Texas Grid for First Time
Young Research

Are you familiar with my piece Rich Grandchild, Poor Grandchild? It’s more about time than money. Teach this lesson to your grandchildren, and they’ll never forget you. My piece on teaching your grandchildren to be investors was inspired by Richard Russell’s Rich Man, Poor Man, a must-read for anyone interested in building and maintaining wealth. […]

Rich Grandchild: There’s Nothing Wrong with Making Money Slowly (Part 26)
E.J. Smith

The International Energy Agency (IEA) Oil Market Report (May 2026) says global oil markets are tightening due to supply disruptions and weaker-than-expected demand. Oil demand is now projected to decline in 2026, while reduced supply and falling inventories are increasing market volatility. Overall, the report highlights a more unstable market with pressure on both prices […]

IEA Warns of Increased Uncertainty in Tightening Oil Market Conditions
Dick Young

US Department of Energy announced new contract awards to exchange about 53.3 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of a coordinated effort to stabilize global oil supplies. Deliveries will begin immediately, with the program designed to move oil into the market quickly while maintaining the reserve’s long-term strength through […]

DOE Moves 53 Million Barrels From Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Dick Young

Amazon has launched Amazon Now, a new ultra-fast delivery service offering groceries, household essentials, and everyday items in as little as 30 minutes in select US cities, with plans for wider expansion. The service uses small, local fulfillment sites to enable rapid delivery and focuses on high-demand products like fresh food and daily essentials. It […]

Amazon Launches “Amazon Now” for 30-Minute Deliveries in U.S. Cities
Young Research

In my conversations with you, you tell me about the trips you’re going on and often email me from your trip to let me know you’ll call me back when you’re stateside. Later this month, some of you will be cruising the Greek Isles, checking out the Egyptian pyramids, visiting your son in the south […]

Kaizen: Are You Spending Your Money Foolishly? (Part 16)
E.J. Smith

The April 2026 CPI report showed that inflation remained elevated and increased faster than expected, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer prices rose 0.6 percent in April after a 0.9 percent increase in March, while annual inflation climbed to 3.8 percent. This suggests inflation is still well above the Federal Reserve’s target. Energy […]

Energy, Food, and Housing Push Inflation Higher in April
Dick Young

US energy production reached a record 107 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration, marking the fourth consecutive annual record and a 3.4% increase from 2024. Growth was driven by strong output from natural gas, crude oil, NGPLs, and renewables. Natural gas remained the largest source of US […]

US Energy Production Hits Record High in 2025 for Fourth Straight Year
Dick Young

China’s push for semiconductor self-sufficiency has boosted Hubei Dinglong, a key supplier of chip-making materials, reports Forbes. The company produces CMP materials, photoresists, and advanced packaging chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing. Strong demand and expansion in these businesses have driven rapid growth in Dinglong’s revenue and share price, turning its founders into billionaires as the […]

China’s Tech Independence Effort Fuels Rise of Chip Industry Billionaires
Young Research