Financial Survival Network, Released on 11/7/25 (Recorded on 11/5/25)

Kerry Lutz and John Rubino break down the cracks appearing in the economy — and they aren’t small. Layoffs are rising, consumer debt is hitting record highs, and defaults are climbing. Even cardboard box demand is falling, a subtle signal that spending is slowing. Petroleum consumption is down, partially due to the rise of electric vehicles, which is also impacting jobs in energy sectors. Car prices remain sky-high, leaving many buyers on the sidelines. Across the board, the economy is showing stress. In Las Vegas, the focus on wealthy visitors has inflated prices for everyday services, leaving the city emptier than you might expect, even on weekends. Meanwhile, the Southwest faces a worsening water crisis, which could spark conflicts between urban areas and agriculture. Rubino and Lutz also explore the volatility in AI stocks, likening the scene to the dot-com bubble, and discuss the urgency of resolving the ongoing government shutdown. The takeaway is clear: the signs of a slowdown — and a potential recession — are everywhere.

John Rubino is the founder and manager of the popular financial website DollarCollapse.com. Mr. Rubino is the co-author, with GoldMoney’s James Turk, of The Money Bubble and The Collapse of the Dollar and How to Profit from It. He spent the 1980’s on Wall Street as a Eurodollar trader, equity analyst and junk bond analyst. During the 1990’s he was a featured columnist with TheStreet.com and a frequent contributor to Individual Investor, Online Investor, and Consumers Digest, among many other publications. He currently writes for CFA Magazine.

  economy, recession, stocks