Inflation, while a key economic indicator, does not impact all demographics uniformly due to the aggregate nature of its measurement. Monthly inflation rates are calculated based on a general basket of goods which may not reflect the true spending habits of various groups, such as low-income or rural families. By examining disaggregated product groups and leveraging high-frequency online price data, researchers can uncover how inflation differentially affects diverse populations, revealing that the experience of inflation varies significantly among different groups.

The upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election is poised to significantly influence the markets for gold, silver, Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), copper, and crude oil. Regardless of whether the current political balance of power remains or shifts, the anticipated policy debates and adjustments in response to public opinion are expected to shape market dynamics. Notably, a potential change in administration could lead to reduced environmental spending impacting copper and silver negatively, while possibly benefiting PGMs and fossil fuels. The election's outcome will also affect America's foreign policy stance, particularly towards China and Iran, further influencing gold and oil prices.

In the midst of escalating geopolitical tensions, gold and copper have become key commodities, not just weathering market volatility but flourishing. Gold, a long-established safe-haven asset, has seen prices soar to near record highs due to its appeal in uncertain times, with central banks, especially in emerging markets, significantly boosting their reserves—290 tons in the first quarter of 2024 alone, a record according to the World Gold Council. This trend underscores a strategic pivot towards gold as a reserve currency, moving away from the U.S. dollar, and suggests that both gold and copper may be at the start of a prolonged bull market that investors should closely watch.

China's "silver economy," driven by the middle-aged and elderly populations, is sparking a new gold rush. In 2023, retail sales from large-scale jewelry enterprises soared to 331 billion RMB ($45.7 billion), marking a 13.3% year-over-year increase, one of the highest growth rates across consumer goods. This surge in demand, both for personal adornment and investment, has prompted a significant uptick in new business registrations in the jewelry sector. Over 2.6 million new companies were registered from January to October 2023 alone, demonstrating an 89.9% increase from the previous year.