Recent Posts
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Iran's Warning Highlights Hormuz's Strategic Oil Choke Point
My take on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz: “The Iranians recently shot a warning shot across the bow. They indicated that they can shut the straits down and cut the world off from 20% of its supply.” https://t.co/sbb1tuQO4T
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
US GDP Growth Stalls at 1.4% in Q4
US GDP growth SLOWED to a MISERABLE 1.4% in Q4 2025. Forget the AI, Silicon Valley, and Trump hype on the economy. The US economy grew at 2.2% for 2025 -- down from 2.8% in 2024. SPINMEISTER TRUMP HAS A LITTLE PROBLEM...
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Brazil Should Delay Bitcoin Purchases Until Inflation Target Met
For more than 5 years, Brazil has been unable to hit its inflation target. Now it wants to buy a million Bitcoin over the next 5 years for a National Bitcoin Reserve. Until Brazil hits its inflation target of 3.00%/yr, it should NOT...
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Expert Questions Reports of China, Russia Arming Iran
Geopolitics expert Alexander Mercouris on Chinese and Russian aid to Iran: “There are all kinds of rumors and reports ... that Iran is receiving important military aid from China and from Russia as it prepares for the conflict with the US.”...
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Venezuela's Offshore Gas Stuck Under US Sanctions
Venezuela sits on vast offshore natural gas reserves that could be developed quickly. But NOTHING will happen as long as US sanctions are imposed on Venezuela. It's time to LIFT SANCTIONS. https://t.co/RrlrOxXGDy
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
U.S. Debt Surge Demands Immediate Fiscal Brake
While the U.S. private sector repaired its balance sheet after 2008, the government did not. Gov’t debt to GDP ratio has climbed from 40% in 2007 to almost 110% today. THE U.S. NEEDS A DEBT BRAKE. UNSUSTAINABLE DEBT = FISCAL CRISIS. https://t.co/38NJYDyJgP
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Trump's Blockade Collapses Cuba's Tourism Industry
#CubaWatch🇨🇺: Thanks to Trump's blockade, Cuba's tourism industry has entirely collapsed. Major hotels and airlines have completely shut down. Stay tuned. https://t.co/BF6qoIAgu0
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
125 International Companies Exit Pakistan Amid Corruption Claims
#PakWatch🇵🇰: 125 international companies are ceasing operations in Pakistan. PAK = CORRUPT = 3RD WORLD https://t.co/tmHXxbtj8I
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Trump's Tariffs Fail, Trade Deficit Widens to $70 B
Pres. Trump promised his steep tariffs would narrow the trade deficit and spark a manufacturing revival. New federal data show the U.S. trade deficit widened to –$70.3B in December 2025. So much for Trump's trade spin. https://t.co/NIGIRs4sQt
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
AI Data Centers Drain Power of 100k Homes
According to a report from the International Energy Agency, an average AI datacenter consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households. AI = HIGHER ELECTRICITY PRICES = AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM. https://t.co/65QNfr2y4U
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
Copper Prices Jump 44% Year‑Over‑Year
Copper prices have surged to an average of $13,012/mt in January 2026 from $8,991/mt a year ago. That's a WHOPPING 44% INCREASE. BUY COPPER, WEAR DIAMONDS. https://t.co/FIhvIikhjQ
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
Sudan's Pound Plummets 27%, Ranks 6th Worst
On this week's Hanke's #CurrencyWatchlist, the Sudanese pound ranks as the WORLD'S 6TH WORST currency. The Sudanese pound has depreciated by over 27% against the USD in the past year. IT’S TIME TO DUMP THE SUDANESE POUND & REPLACE IT WITH THE US...
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
India Bypasses US, Secures 114 French Rafale Jets
India isn’t waiting on Washington. It just signed a deal for 114 Rafale jets from France. This is more evidence that India is pivoting away from Trump’s threats from the US. https://t.co/kHtF1xgjEs
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
India's Exports Surge Despite Higher US Tariffs
From the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects: Indian merchandise exports rose despite higher US tariffs. MODI’S ON A ROLL. https://t.co/yxKowcoHyv
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
India's 6.5% Growth Beats China, Fastest Major Economy
As the World Bank notes, India is the fastest-growing major economy. India's growth rate of 6.5% is even outpacing China's. https://t.co/3S7a6Z6LbT
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
India Drives South Asia's 6‑7% Growth; Rest Lags
According to the World Bank, South Asia growth stays near 6-7%. Strip out India, and the region slows sharply. India is the growth story. https://t.co/Q8e7g9b1j3
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
Indonesia Leads Malaysia in Palm Oil and Economic Growth
What do Indonesia and Malaysia have in common? They are the two biggest palm oil exporters in the world. Since 2008, Indonesia’s economy has outperformed Malaysia’s. https://t.co/mTUct95oZv
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 19, 2026
North Korea's Inflation Soars to 74.6%, World’s Third Highest
#NKWatch🇰🇵: Today, I measure North Korea’s inflation at 74.6%/yr — that’s the THIRD HIGHEST IN THE WORLD. Kim’s rockets fly, but inflation is what’s truly SKYROCKETING. https://t.co/EbYJ0oBnAW
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Dalio Predicts US Will Print Money, Devalue Currency
Ray Dalio, founder of the world's LARGEST hedge fund, on the national debt: "When countries essentially go broke, what they do is... print money, devalue the currency, and create an artificially low interest rate...that is the way the [US] will do...
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 18, 2026
NYC Deficit Sparks Mayor's Risky Corporate and Property Tax Plan
New York City faces a fiscal crisis –– a $5.4B budget deficit. Mayor Mamdani’s plan: tax the most profitable corporations or INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES. MAMDANI’S PLAN = A PLAN TO KILL NEW YORK’S ECONOMY. https://t.co/HKJXzJh4Cu
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Gold Rallies 13% as Tech Stocks Stumble
While the Magnificent Seven tech stocks have SUFFERED in 2026, GOLD IS UP over 13%. It's time to turn away from SILLY VALLEY. BUY GOLD, WEAR DIAMONDS. https://t.co/PZTIJFhPOp
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Egypt's M3 Surge Drives Inflation Beyond Target
Egypt's inflation rate is 11.9%/yr. Egypt's money supply (M3) is growing at 22.7%, ABOVE Hanke's Golden Growth Rate range from 13.1%/yr-17.1%/yr, consistent with hitting its inflation target range of 5%/yr-9%/yr. THE INFLATION STORY = A MONEY SUPPLY STORY. https://t.co/V2EApGpMCY
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Saudi Crude Shipments to China Hit Multi-Year High
Saudi Arabia’s projected March crude oil shipments to China are set to reach a multi-year high. When it comes to commodities, China is always the elephant in the room. Maybe this is a bullish sign? Stay tuned. https://t.co/d55SdnfvJv
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Central Banks Amass Record Gold, China Adds 357 Tonnes
Central banks around the world have spurred one of the largest gold-buying waves in history. The top 15 buyers added ~2,000 tonnes. China alone added over 357 tonnes since 2020. BUY GOLD, WEAR DIAMONDS. https://t.co/8Gm9M05oo3
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 17, 2026
UK Unemployment Peaks Since COVID, Youth Jobless at 16%
#UKWatch🇬🇧: UK unemployment levels have reached their HIGHEST LEVEL since COVID. Youth unemployment ROSE TO 16.1%. RUSSOPHOBE STARMER’S GOVERNMENT IS FLOUNDERING. https://t.co/4jk4KQ1Q5I
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Iranian Rial Crashes as US‑Iran Nuclear Talks Begin
Today, US-Iran nuclear talks began in Geneva. As the talks start, the Iranian rial is in the tank. It has depreciated by over 43% against the dollar in the past year, making it THE SECOND WORST CURRENCY IN THE WORLD. https://t.co/PORIO6lGtc
By Steve Hanke
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Sanctions Spawn Shadow Fleet, Aging Tankers Scrapped in India
US sanctions squeezed Russian and Venezuelan oil shipping out of mainstream markets. A shadow fleet emerged. Now aging dark fleet tankers are arriving at Indian scrapyards at a record pace. SANCTIONS = WORKAROUNDS = UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. https://t.co/GddyWzZwZd
By Steve Hanke