Winter is Coming...For Your Wallet! Are We Headed For Recession?

The People are Not Happy and I Understand that Feeling

My loyal subjects! Or well the closest thing I have to subjects in this…'United States of America.' I Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen First of Her Name Queen of the Andals and the First Men Protector of the Seven Kingdoms the Mother of Dragons the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea the Unburnt the Breaker of Chains have been studying your 'economic indicators.' And let me tell you it appears winter is coming and not the kind with White Walkers. This is the kind that empties your coffers faster than a Dothraki horde can plunder a village. The University of Michigan – sounds like a place where Maesters hide doesn’t it? – has released a survey showing that consumer sentiment has plummeted faster than I dropped the Iron Fleet. It seems even the smallfolk are starting to feel the chill.

Inflation is Rising Faster Than My Dragons

Inflation! It’s a word that makes even dragons nervous. According to these Maesters of Michigan expectations for inflation are higher than the Iron Throne is uncomfortable. Apparently people expect prices to rise faster than I can say “Dracarys!” A year from now they anticipate a 6.7% increase. By the five year horizon it's expected to be 4.4%. Such figures are giving me flashbacks to King's Landing's economy under Cersei Lannister! Perhaps I need to unleash Drogon on the gas stations to bring those numbers down? It's a tempting thought.

All is Not Well in the Seven...Err 50 States

The survey reveals a rather grim picture across the board. The current economic conditions are worse than a feast after the Red Wedding. Expectations are lower than Tyrion's stature. All demographics are affected regardless of age income or which house they claim allegiance to… or in this case political affiliation. It seems these 'tariffs,' imposed by a man named Trump are part of the problem. As if the smallfolk don’t have enough to worry about with the price of bread rising faster than wildfire! Do these leaders not understand? 'I will not let those I have freed be put back in chains'.

Unemployment: A Fear Greater Than the Night King

Unemployment is rearing its ugly head like the Night King emerging from the Land of Always Winter. Fears of job loss are the highest they've been since 2009 a year that sounds about as pleasant as Joffrey's reign. It seems some 'Wall Street executives' and 'economists' think this 'U.S.' could teeter on a 'recession.' All these terms sound like Dothraki curses to me! But the meaning is clear: people are worried about their livelihoods. I freed slaves from their chains but what good is freedom if they cannot feed their families? Perhaps I should take on these tariffs myself.

A Grain of Salt or Perhaps a Dragon Egg?

Now the Maesters of CNBC are saying that these numbers are somewhat at odds with the market. Perhaps they are right and this is just a blip. Or perhaps these market based expectations are as reliable as Littlefinger’s promises. Remember even the wisest of advisors can be wrong. After all my own council failed to stop me from torching King’s Landing didn’t they? "I will answer injustice with justice."

A Call To Arms...Or Perhaps a Financial Seminar?

But fear not! CNBC is offering a seminar at the 'New York Stock Exchange.' Supposedly you can gain an 'edge' in these 'uncertain markets.' Though it sounds about as thrilling as a tax audit in the Free Cities it might be worth investigating. Perhaps they have a solution to this looming economic winter. If not well at least I’ll have a new place to burn down when I finally get bored of this whole 'democracy' thing. But more importantly I hope you all will remember "That is what I do. I free people."