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Join Us at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida! Nov. 17-19, 2023

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Join Us at the 2023 World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida!

? Dates: November 17, 18, and 19 ? Location: Orlando, Florida, USA (or tune in from home with our virtual ticket options)

Are you ready to unlock the future of economics and finance? Prepare for an unforgettable World Economic Conference experience in sunny Orlando, Florida! This premier event is your gateway to insights, networking, and valuable resources that will supercharge your understanding of the global economy.

?️ What’s Included for In-Person Attendees:

  1. Event Admission: Enjoy reserved seating assigned based on the order of ticket sales, ensuring you have a prime view of every presentation.
  2. Presentation Slides: Gain access to the presentation slides from all speakers, allowing you to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
  3. Video Recording: Can’t make it to a session? No worries! You’ll receive access to video recordings of all conference presentations, so you can catch up at your convenience.
  4. WEC Event App: Connect with the conference on a whole new level. Access presentation slides, bonus reports, recordings, and more via the official WEC Event App.
  5. Bonus Conference Materials: Get a package of bonus conference-related materials, including exclusive bonus reports and videos (as provided by Martin Armstrong).
  6. Morning Information Sessions: Don’t miss out on important morning information sessions, screened on-site in the meeting room on Saturday and Sunday.
  7. Networking Opportunities: Exclusive access to the Event App Networking Feature allows you to connect with fellow attendees, both in-person and virtual, fostering valuable professional relationships.
  8. Culinary Delights: Savor delicious breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, prepared to keep you energized throughout the day.
  9. Cocktail Reception: Kick off the conference in style at our Friday evening cocktail reception. Meet and mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying refreshing drinks.
  10. Swag Bag: As a token of our appreciation, each in-person attendee will receive a swag bag filled with goodies, including an Armstrong Economics notebook, pen, and an event collector’s mug!

Unable to travel? We also have two different ticket options for those wishing to attend virtually! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global gathering of economic and financial minds. Secure your spot at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida, and gain the knowledge, connections, and resources you need to thrive in the world of finance and economics.

Space is limited, so act now and reserve your seat! Visit our Events page to register and join us in sunny Orlando this November.

NEW BOOK Now Available : "Mark Antony & Cleopatra"

Mark Antony Cleopatra Cleopatra Proxy War

Now available at all major retailers!

The eBook will be available shortly.

"THE PLOT TO SEIZE RUSSIA - THE UNTOLD HISTORY"

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The second edition of “The Plot to Seize Russia – The Untold History” is now available for purchase in paperback and hardcover on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The ebook will be available shortly.

Book description:

“Take care of Russia,” Boris Yeltsin said as he departed his presidency in August 1999. These words were directed at current Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Yeltsin specifically picked Putin as his predecessor to prevent the takeover of Russia.

So, who was Yeltsin warning against? Newly declassified documents from the Clinton Administration prove that there was a plot to rig the Russian election of 2000. These never-before-seen documents confirm numerous attempts to implement pro-Western policies using the Russian oligarchy headed by Boris Berezovsky.

On the other side were the communists who desired a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union. As one of the largest international hedge fund managers, author Martin Armstrong found himself in the middle of perhaps the greatest espionage, or attempt at a regime change for Russia, in modern history.

The Plot to Seize Russia pulls back the curtain to expose the most extraordinary attempt to seize power in modern history, but with the pen rather than armies. These declassified documents reveal a plot that has altered our thinking about the relations between the United States and Russia. The thirst for power comes seething through every line of these papers that alter our perception of reality, change the course of history, and now threaten us with World War III.

Market Talk – April 6, 2026

Market Talk 2017

ASIA:
The major Asian stock markets had a green day today:
• NIKKEI 225 increased 290.19 points or 0.55% to 53,413.68
• Shanghai closed
• Hang Seng closed
• ASX 200 closed
• SENSEX increased 787.30 points or 1.07% to 74,106.85
• Nifty50 increased 255.15 points or 1.12% to 22,968.25
The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:
• AUDUSD increased 0.00196 or 0.28% to 0.69146
• NZDUSD increased 0.00234 or 0.41% to 0.57134
• USDJPY increased 0.103 or 0.06% to 159.759
• USDCNY decreased 0.00881 or -0.13% to 6.87720
The above data was collected around 13:35 EST.
Precious Metals:
•  Gold decreased 21.82 USD/t oz. or -0.47% to 4,655.46
•  Silver decreased 0.197 USD/t. oz. or -0.27% to 72.793
The above data was collected around 13:42 EST.
EUROPE/EMEA:
The major Europe stock markets had a closed day today:
•  CAC 40 closed
•  FTSE 100 closed
•  DAX 30 closed
The major Europe currency markets had a mixed day today:
• EURUSD increased 0.00232 or 0.20% to 1.15412
• GBPUSD increased 0.00172 or 0.13% to 1.32276
• USDCHF decreased 0.00231 or -0.29% to 0.79840
The above data was collected around 13:52 EST.

Americas:

US Markets:

  • DJIA advanced by 165.21 points (0.36%) to 46,669.88
  • S&P 500 advanced by 29.14 points (0.44%) to 6,611.83
  • NASDAQ advanced by 117.16 points (0.54%) to 21,996.337
  • Russell 2000 advanced by 10.60 points (0.42%) to 2,540.643

Canada:

  • TSX Composite advanced by 73.75 points (0.22%) to 33,181.97
  • TSX 60 advanced by 3.96 points (0.21%) to 1,927.68

Brazil:

  • Bovespa advanced by 109.95 points (0.06%) to 188,161.97
ENERGY:
The oil markets had a green day today:
•  Crude Oil increased 2.458 USD/BBL or 2.20% to 113.998
•  Brent increased 1.801 USD/BBL or 1.65% to 110.831
•  Natural gas increased 0.0139 USD/MMBtu or 0.50% to 2.8139
•  Gasoline increased 0.0229 USD/GAL 0.70% to 3.3109
•  Heating oil increased 0.05 USD/GAL or 1.15% to 4.4111
The above data was collected around 13:58 EST.
•  Top commodity gainers: Crude Oil (2.20%), Heating Oil (1.15%), Brent (1.65%) and Rubber (1.36%)
•  Top commodity losers: Rice (-1.31%), Palladium (-1.00%), Lumber (-2.25%) and Cheese (-1.76%)
The above data was collected around 14:15 EST.
BONDS:
Japan 2.4320% (+4.72bp), US 2’s 3.85% (+0.015%), US 10’s 4.3280% (+0.8bps); US 30’s 4.89 (-0.032%), Bunds 2.9951% (-0.81bp), France 3.6800% (-0.42bp), Italy 3.8566% (+0bp), Turkey 32.785% (+233.5bp), Greece 3.815% (-0.4bp), Portugal 3.422% (+0bp); Spain 3.482% (-0.8bp) and UK Gilts 4.7780% (+0.03bp)
The above data was collected around 14:19 EST.

Tax Flight Accelerates in Massachusetts

Migration Moving Out of State

The data coming out of Massachusetts confirms exactly what I have been warning about for years. You cannot raise taxes on a shrinking base and expect the system to hold together. According to new IRS migration data, the state lost roughly $4.18 billion in adjusted gross income to other states in 2023, a dramatic increase from about $900 million a decade earlier. This came immediately after the implementation of a 4% surtax on income over $1 million, a policy sold as a way to fund education and infrastructure but which has instead accelerated the exit of high-income earners.

What stands out is not just the number of people leaving, but who is leaving. High earners now account for about 70% of the outbound income, meaning the very group being targeted for revenue is the one walking out the door. That is the fatal flaw in these policies. Governments assume the wealthy are trapped. They are not. Capital is mobile, and when you create an environment that penalizes productivity, investment, and success, it simply relocates.

About half of those leaving Massachusetts are heading to states like Florida and New Hampshire, jurisdictions that impose far lower tax burdens or none at all on income. This is not random movement. This is deliberate. People are voting with their feet, and more importantly, they are taking their income, businesses, and long-term investment potential with them. The idea that you can isolate taxation within state borders without consequence is simply false.

This is part of a broader trend across the United States. High-tax states are experiencing outflows, while low-tax states are absorbing both people and capital. I have said repeatedly that governments do not seem to understand that capital flows are the dominant force, not policy intentions. You can pass whatever legislation you want, but if confidence declines and the environment becomes hostile to wealth creation, the money leaves. It is that simple.

The real danger is what happens next. As the tax base shrinks, governments are forced to extract more from those who remain to maintain spending levels. One analyst put it bluntly: “We are trying to make money on a smaller tax base. It’s going to be harder.” That is the spiral. First, taxes rise. Then capital leaves. Then taxes must rise again to compensate. It becomes a self-reinforcing cycle that ultimately undermines the entire fiscal structure.

Massachusetts is now a case study in what happens when policymakers ignore these dynamics. They are collecting billions in new surtax revenue, yet simultaneously losing billions in taxable income. That is not success. That is cannibalization of the future for short-term gain.

This ties directly into what I have warned about regarding state-level fiscal crises. Governments assume they can control behavior through taxation, but they cannot control confidence. Once people begin to question whether a state is competitive, whether it is worth staying, whether their future is better elsewhere, the shift begins. It does not happen all at once, but once it starts, it is very difficult to reverse.

What Massachusetts is experiencing today is not isolated. It is a warning sign. The same policies being debated in California, New York, and other states will produce the same outcome. Capital does not stay where it is punished. It moves to where it is treated best. That is the fundamental rule governments continue to ignore, and until they understand that, this trend will only accelerate.

Lead Contaminating America’s Food Supply

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There has been an outpouring of recalls in the USA due to lead contamination in the food supply. Lead showing up in food in the United States is the result of overlapping structural problems that have been building for decades, and the recalls you are seeing now are simply the system reacting after the fact rather than preventing contamination in the first place.

At the core, lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that exists in soil and water, but human activity has dramatically amplified its presence. The legacy of leaded gasoline, old paint, industrial emissions, and contaminated irrigation systems means that farmland across parts of the country still carries trace levels. Crops like root vegetables, grains, and even fruits can absorb lead directly from soil or water, so even “clean” farming practices cannot fully eliminate exposure.

Then you have the infrastructure problem. Much of the United States still relies on aging water systems, including old lead pipes. When that water is used in food processing or irrigation, it becomes another pathway for contamination. This is not theory, we have already seen this play out in places like Flint, and the same risk exists nationwide on a smaller scale.

Another major factor is imported ingredients. A significant portion of food sold in the U.S. relies on global supply chains where oversight is far weaker. Spices, chocolate, baby food ingredients, and supplements have repeatedly been flagged for elevated lead levels because they are sourced from regions with contaminated soil or less stringent regulation. Once those ingredients enter the U.S. supply chain, they are mixed into finished products that appear safe on the surface.

The recalls themselves happen because of how regulation is structured. Agencies like the FDA do not pre-approve every batch of food. Instead, companies are responsible for their own safety testing, and regulators step in when problems are detected through inspections, whistleblowers, or independent lab testing. That means contamination is often discovered after products are already on shelves.

What has changed recently is not necessarily the level of contamination, but the level of scrutiny. Testing methods are more sensitive, public awareness is higher, and lawsuits are increasing, especially around baby food. That is why you are seeing more recalls. The system is detecting what was always there.

From a broader perspective, this fits into a pattern that governments consistently overlook. They regulate the appearance of safety rather than the underlying infrastructure. You can pass stricter rules, but if the soil is contaminated, the pipes are old, and the supply chain is global and fragmented, the problem does not disappear. It simply surfaces in cycles, much like everything else. There is a growing distrust of the food supply in America. What was once a conspiracy is now generally accepted as a fact: America’s food supply is compromised. When people begin to question the safety of basic necessities like food and water, trust in institutions starts to erode, which is why “FDA Approved” does not equate to “safe for consumption.”

March Jobs Report – USA

Jobs

The March 2026 employment report is being celebrated by the press as a “blowout” number, yet once again they are focusing on the headline and ignoring what is actually taking place beneath the surface. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added 178,000 jobs for the month, far exceeding expectations that were clustered around 60,000, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.3%.

The prior month was revised to a loss of 133,000 jobs, meaning what you are seeing is not acceleration but volatility. When you strip away the headline number, the first major warning sign is the collapse in labor force participation. Roughly 396,000 people exited the labor force in March alone, pushing participation below 62%, the lowest level since the pandemic era. This is precisely how governments manipulate unemployment statistics. If people stop looking for work, they are no longer counted as unemployed, so the rate declines even as the underlying economy weakens.

Then you look at wages, which rose only modestly, roughly 0.2% for the month and about 3.5% annually, marking the slowest pace in years. This is critical because it confirms what we have been warning about, this is not inflation driven by demand, this is cost-push inflation driven by war, energy, and policy. When wages stall while prices rise, that is the very definition of stagflation.

The composition of the jobs tells the same story. Healthcare accounted for roughly 76,000 of the gains, largely a rebound from strike activity, while construction and manufacturing added modest numbers. Government employment declined by about 18,000 and financial sectors also contracted, which is a red flag because those are forward-looking industries tied to capital formation.

Even more troubling is that hiring itself remains weak. The broader trend shows job growth averaging only a fraction of prior years, with some estimates suggesting as little as 15,000 to 20,000 per month over the past year. That is an economy treading water.

The Federal Reserve will likely sit on its hands, because it has no real control here. If it cuts rates, it risks fueling inflation through energy. If it raises rates, it risks accelerating the downturn. This is the trap created by sovereign debt and geopolitical mismanagement.

Pope Leo’s Message to Neocons

Happy Easter

Top 10 Bible Studies for Easter

 

On behalf of everyone at Armstrong Economics, we wish you a Happy Easter. Take the time to be with family, reflect on what truly matters, and understand that even in uncertain times, there is always a path forward.

PRIVATE BLOG – Netanyahu’s Armageddon

PRIVATE BLOG

PRIVATE BLOG – Netanyahu’s Armageddon


Private blog posts are exclusively available to Socrates subscribers. To sign-up for Socrates or to learn more, please visit Ask-Socrates.com.

https://ask-socrates.com/

No Kings Protestor React to STRAIGHT of Hormuz

The Latest Meme on Iran War

China Expands Digital Yuan

China Yuan Currency

China has just taken another decisive step toward the future of money, and once again, the West is pretending this is simply about “payment efficiency.” The People’s Bank of China has now expanded its digital yuan program by adding 12 additional banks, bringing the total number of participating institutions to 22.

China launched the digital yuan back in 2019, and despite already having dominant digital payment systems like Alipay and WeChat Pay, they continue to push forward aggressively. The reason is simple. Those systems are private. The digital yuan is not. This is a direct liability of the central bank, meaning every transaction can be monitored, tracked, and ultimately controlled.

This latest expansion dramatically increases the infrastructure behind the system. These new banks will handle wallet creation, payments, and settlement, effectively embedding the digital yuan deeper into everyday economic life. This is how adoption is forced. Not by demand, but by integration.

What is equally important is what China is doing at the same time. They are cracking down on cryptocurrencies and banning stablecoins, eliminating any competing alternative that would allow citizens to transact outside the state-controlled system.

And this is where people need to understand what a central bank digital currency truly represents. I have warned repeatedly that CBDCs are not about innovation. They are about surveillance and control. Governments have long wanted the ability to monitor every transaction, track every movement of capital, and ultimately dictate how money can be spent. A digital currency allows them to do exactly that. You can impose spending limits, restrict purchases, freeze accounts instantly, and even enforce policy at the individual level.

China is simply the first to implement it at scale. The digital yuan has already processed trillions in transactions, and its expansion into cross-border systems shows the real objective. They are building an alternative financial architecture that bypasses the dollar system entirely.

You can see this clearly in projects like mBridge, where digital currencies are being used for international settlements outside of SWIFT. The goal is not just domestic control, but global influence. The more countries adopt this infrastructure, the less dependent they become on the existing Western financial system. At the same time, China is even moving toward making digital yuan holdings interest-bearing, further incentivizing adoption and transforming it into a full banking alternative. This is no longer just a payment tool. It is becoming the foundation of a parallel financial system.

Governments do not introduce these systems when confidence is high. They introduce them when confidence is collapsing and they need to regain control over capital flows. We are entering that phase now. The sovereign debt crisis is not going away. Governments are desperate to maintain control over capital as fiscal conditions deteriorate. A CBDC gives them the tool they have always wanted. Total visibility and total authority over money itself.