The table presented above compares and contrasts the two healthcare ETFs, based on Yahoo! Finance statistics as of the market close on July, 2, 2008.

Despite concerns over the health of the domestic economy along with surging food and energy prices, the healthcare sector has failed to garner investor interest as a safe haven. Most healthcare exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and drug stocks continue to languish near multi-year lows, despite an aging Baby Boomer population and ever-increasing proportion of the gross domestic product (GDP) accounted for by healthcare spending. Last year, total health expenses grew at twice the inflation rate (6.9%), accounting for 16% of the GDP at $2.3 trillion. This growth rate is expected to continue over the next decade to a level of $4.2 trillion in 2016, accounting for 20% of the GDP, based on statistics provided by the National Coalition for …

By Jason Simpkins Associate Editor Mexico’s central bank unexpectedly raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 7.75% Friday, warning that the rate of inflation may exceed its previous forecast. “The recent inflation dynamic is worrying,” Banco de Mexico’s five-member board said in a statement. “The balance of risks for inflation has worsened.” Consumer prices in Mexico jumped nearly 5% in May from a year earlier, the biggest jump since 2004, according to Bloomberg News. The government has issued a price freeze on tortillas, cooking oils, beans and roughly 150 other items this year to ensure its population is adequately fed. The decision surprised many analysts as it flouted the country’s president, Felipe Calderon, who has hinted that borrowing costs are already too high. Still, inflation demanded Mexico’s attention as soaring food and energy costs have resulted in ...

The Labor Department reported on Friday that the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6% in May -- the most since November and reversing a three month downward trend -- as the high price of oil sent the price of goods higher. While I expected the number to come in on the high side, it grossly underestimates the real inflation rate. What’s more, the “core” inflation rate, which strips out energy and food prices, was reported to have edged up only a modest 0.2%. Give me a break! That’s not a bad number if you don’t eat and drive! As I’ve told you before, the government’s CPI number is rigged, using all kinds of manipulations and shenanigans to keep the number absurdly low. Anyone with half a brain can see that the “official” data doesn’t jibe with what consumers are experiencing as prices for everything under

...

Scorching Hot Food Inflation Today, we are seeing the US dollar go up and gold go down. That's interesting, considering that inflation is nowhere near tamed.U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer: " We are anticipating this year an over 40 percent increase in food price inflation globally, 43 percent approximately." Schafer added: "Of that we can identify two to three percent of that price increase that is driven by biofuels."So Mr. Schafer says something to scare the pants off us -- 43% food inflation. The same number was cited by Edward Lazar, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, in his testimony to the Senate last month. Most people seem to have missed that.At the same time, Schaefer's 2% to 3% figure for biofuel-caused inflation sounds bogus. So what can we believe?If you believe the IMF, the ...

Hello Friends!  Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog, Stock Picks Bob’s Advice!  As always, please remember that I am an amateur investor, so please remember to consult with your professional investment advisers prior to making any investment decisions based on information on this website.

Is inflation rearing its ugly head?

As reported this morning:
The department’s Producer Price Index, which measures inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, rose 0.2 pct in April following a 1.1 increase in March.

Core inflation rose 0.4 pct for the …