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The Trump Tax Cut Is in Full Swing - but These Debts Don't Look Good

Tax collections fell in June as the Trump tax cut continued to bite into federal revenues. The fall in tax collections, combined with the rise in spending stemming from the congressional budget-busting agreement signed by Trump, is causing an increase in the government's issuance of Treasury bills, notes, and bonds, month in and month out.

That increase in supply puts downward pressure on bond prices and increases in interest rates and bond yields. It isn't obvious in the bond market at the moment, since the 10-year yield has traded in a tight range around the 2.80s. But short-term T-bill rates are soaring, with the 13-week bill hitting 2% last week.

Meanwhile, increased debt-financed deficits have kept the U.S. economy running hot, but there are hints of slowing in current data. That's not supposed to happen. Tax cuts and deficit spending are supposed to stimulate spending.

Read on for my unvarnished, unmanipulated, real-time view of the state of the U.S. economy...

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Why the Toys R Us Shutdown Is Good for Your Portfolio

Yesterday (March 15), Toys R Us confirmed plans to liquidate its U.S. business.

Last September, the beloved toy store filed for bankruptcy.

They've already closed 180 of their 800 stores, but shutting them all down was never part of their original plan (it never is). Expectations were for a re-structuring of the company that would prevent that from happening.

Fast-forward to this week's announcement of the closing of their remaining stores permanently.

Now for many, this is pretty unsettling news. Toys R Us has been a household name – a childhood favorite. Making that trip to the pick out the perfect toy for being good or getting outstanding grades was something a lot of us looked forward to when we were kids.

And for parents, the memories of battling holiday mobs to get the last Tickle Me Elmo or a Cabbage Patch Doll still bring laughter around the family table.

So hearing that another Goliath like Toys R Us – one you'd always think would be around – is closing is enough for some traders and investors to start dumping all their retail shares.

But that's actually one of the worst things to do, especially to your portfolio - here's why...