NIA Says Americans Should Prepare for Hyperinflation

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Inflation Association today released the following statement to its http://inflation.us/ members:

"The Federal Reserve's announcement on Wednesday to expand its balance sheet by $1.15 trillion puts our country on a direct path towards hyperinflation.

By spending $300 billion on long-term U.S. Treasuries, $750 billion on worthless mortgage-backed securities, and $100 billion on other federal agency debt; the Federal Reserve will be doing nothing more than printing $1.15 trillion out of thin air, which means Americans are guaranteed to see a sharp decline in the purchasing power of their U.S. Dollars.

Wednesday's news brings total funds allocated by the Federal Reserve and United States Treasury during the financial crisis up to $11.4 trillion and although only $2.8 trillion has so far been spent, we believe the full $11.4 trillion will inevitably be spent.

If the Federal Reserve simply allowed AIG to fail, the free-market would've efficiently reorganized the company in bankruptcy. The $165 million in employee bonus contracts, that Congress has been so eager to express outrage about, would've been wiped out completely. The failure of AIG would not have brought down the U.S. financial system. However, bailing out every financial firm on Wall Street will.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke commented this past weekend on 60 Minutes that our country's biggest risk is we don't have the political will and commitment to solve our current financial problems. We respectfully disagree with Chairman Bernanke and believe our country's biggest risk is hyperinflation, that will come as a result of the Federal Reserve's actions.

Up until now, the United States has been successful at keeping inflation somewhat under control by borrowing the money for much of its spending from China. However, China's Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao said last week that he is worried about the safety of the U.S. Treasuries they are holding. By China publicly acknowledging their fears, not only is it possible China will stop buying U.S. Treasuries, but they could take advantage of the Federal Reserve buying U.S. Treasuries and use it as an opportunity to sell.

The U.S. Consumer Price Index rose in February by 0.4 percent, which equals an annualized inflation rate of 4.8 percent. We believe inflation would be much higher if it wasn't for all of the temporary factors driving consumer prices down such as the forced liquidations of hedge funds, de-leveraging of banks, going out of business sales of retail stores, etc.

These temporary factors will soon be gone. They are likely to end at the same time as the Federal Reserve begins printing trillions of Dollars and China potentially becomes a net seller of U.S. Treasuries. The perfect storm is ahead for massive inflation to begin in the second half of 2009. Being that our country already has an $11 trillion national debt and $55 trillion in unfunded liabilities for social security, Medicare, and other social programs; hyperinflation during the next decade is becoming less the worst case scenario and more the most likely scenario.

Our country's current financial crisis is a walk in the park compared to what is ahead. Despite rapidly rising unemployment rates, Americans today can still purchase very cheap food, clothing, and gas. We can't take this for granted and must prepare for what is ahead.

If you prepare for the worse, the best will always happen. Americans who begin preparing for hyperinflation now, not only could preserve their purchasing power in the years ahead, but could potentially become wealthy as Americans hoarding U.S. Dollars, bonds and other dollar-denominated assets lose everything. We believe there will soon be a Gold, Silver, and Agriculture boom that will make the dot-com and Real Estate booms look small in comparison."

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Flirt with Record Lows

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mortgage rates fell sharply in the first week of 2009, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate plummeting to 5.33 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.39 discount and origination points.

The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage dropped to 4.85 percent, while the average jumbo 30-year fixed rate slumped to 6.91 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were mixed, with the average 1-year ARM inching higher to 5.98 percent and the average 5/1 ARM pulling back to 5.72 percent.

Mortgage rates fell sharply as the Federal Reserve initiated a program of mortgage bond purchases. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is at the third lowest point ever, 5.33 percent. The two prior occasions when rates were lower both occurred in June 2003. Low mortgage rates will be a theme in 2009 as Fed and Treasury policies aim to stabilize the housing market by facilitating refinancing and enticing home buyers into the marketplace.

The sharp decline in mortgage rates since Halloween has sparked a refinancing frenzy. In late October, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.77 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,299.86. With the average rate having since fallen to 5.33 percent, the monthly payment on a $200,000 loan is now $1,114.34.

SURVEY RESULTS
30-year fixed: 5.33% -- down from 5.64% last week (avg. points: 0.39)
15-year fixed: 4.85% -- down from 5.16% last week (avg. points: 0.38)
5/1 ARM: 5.72% -- down from 5.86% last week (avg. points: 0.47)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

For a full analysis of this week's move in mortgage rates, go to http://www.bankrate.com/mortgagerates

The survey is complemented by Bankrate's weekly forward-looking Rate Trend Index, in which a panel of mortgage experts predicts which way the rates are headed over the next 30 to 45 days. A plurality of panelists, 42 percent, predict rates will continue falling. One in three expect rates to rebound, while the remaining 25 percent believe rates will remain more or less unchanged.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Federal Reserve Board Approves Wells Fargo’s Application to Merge with Wachovia Corporation

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) said today that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve has approved its application to merge with Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB) including all its subsidiaries, and the share exchange agreement previously entered into between Wachovia and Wells Fargo.

The approval is an important step forward in the transaction, which still requires the approval of Wachovia shareholders. The merger is on schedule to be completed by the end of this year.

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $609 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and elsewhere internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest possible credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service, “Aaa,” and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, “AAA.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements about Wells Fargo and Wachovia and the proposed transaction between the companies. There are several factors – many beyond Wells Fargo’s control – that could cause actual results to differ significantly from expectations described in the forward-looking statements. Among these factors are the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and the approval of Wachovia shareholders. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect changes that occur after that date.

For a discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, refer to each company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, including information incorporated into each company’s 10-K from their respective 2007 annual reports, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT

The proposed merger will be submitted to Wachovia Corporation shareholders for their consideration. Wells Fargo will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Wachovia Corporation that also constitutes a prospectus of Wells Fargo. Wachovia Corporation will mail the proxy statement-prospectus to its shareholders. Wachovia shareholders and other investors are urged to read the final proxy statement-prospectus when it becomes available because it will describe the proposed merger and contain other important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed merger, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). You may also obtain free copies of these documents by contacting Wells Fargo or Wachovia, as follows:

Wells Fargo & Company, Attention Corporate Secretary, MAC N9305-173, Sixth and Marquette, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479, (612) 667-0087.

Wachovia Corporation, Investor Relations, One Wachovia Center, 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28288, (704) 374-6782

Wells Fargo and Wachovia and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Wachovia Corporation shareholders in connection with the proposed merger. Information about Wells Fargo’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Wells Fargo common stock is contained in the definitive proxy statement for Wells Fargo’s 2008 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed by Wells Fargo with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 17, 2008. Information about Wachovia’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Wachovia common stock is contained in the definitive proxy statement for Wachovia’s 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed by Wachovia with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 10, 2008. You may obtain a free copy of these documents by contacting Wells Fargo or Wachovia at the contact information provided above. The proxy statement-prospectus for the proposed merger will provide more information about participants in the solicitation of proxies from Wachovia Corporation shareholders.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page