Category Archives: Inflation

Are TIPS a good investment in 2012?

I get that question a lot. My quickest reaction is: ‘No.’ Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities were a really good investment back in 1999, when you could have bought a 30-year TIPS with a yield to maturity of 4.138% – that means … Continue reading

Posted in I Bond, Inflation, Investing in TIPS | 15 Comments

An update on U.S. inflation: Nowhere to be found

I was out of town last week and didn’t get a chance to write about the U.S. inflation rate in July, which was unchanged from June, in other words … zero inflation in July. This is the ‘headline’ inflation rate … Continue reading

Posted in I Bond, Inflation, Investing in TIPS | 5 Comments

Bernanke: ‘It is arguable that the interest rates are too high’

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke laid out his argument for super-low interest rates today in an appearance before the House Financial Services Committee. His opening statement included this (insert adjective here) statement on U.S. interest rates: “It is arguable that … Continue reading

Posted in I Bond, Inflation | 2 Comments

Coming Thursday, Aug. 18: Reissue of a 5-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Security

We knew this was coming, of course, and today we got the official announcement by the U.S. Treasury. On Thursday, the Treasury will auction a reissue of CUSIP 912828QD5, which was originally issued on April 15, 2011 and matures on April … Continue reading

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Next auction: Reissue of a 5-year TIPS, Aug. 18, 2011

Update: Buy this issue? I say, no. The U.S. Treasury will auction a reissue of a 5-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Security on Aug. 18, 2011. It will be interesting to see how much buyer interest this auction can raise. My point … Continue reading

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