just a few of today's headlines from Sinclair and Zerohedge. They must all be from 'conspiracy nuts' like the gold bugs.

The latest from John Williams’ www.ShadowStats.com.

- Inflation Picks Up as the Economy Slows Down
- December Annual Inflation: 1.5% (CPI-U), 1.5% (CPI-W), 9.1% (ShadowStats)
- Real Retail Sales Declined by 0.1% in Industry’s Flagship Month of December; Slowing Annual Growth Signaled Recession
- Real Weekly Earnings Declined in December

"No. 592: December CPI, Real Retail Sales and Earnings"
Web-page: http://www.shadowstats.com

German Gold Manipulation Blowback Escalates: Deutsche Bank Exits Gold Price Fixing …

Consumer Confidence Slides, Misses By Most In 8 Years …

As Capacity Utilization Rises To Five Year High, Many Wonder: Just How Much Slack Is There?

This was also the highest Cap Utilization print since May 2008 and makes a further case that the economic cycle is in its late stages and that slack, contrary to what economists are repeatedly, and incorrectly, claiming is rapidly dropping to the point where it is indeed time to start thinking about the arrival of the next dreaded "R" word.

UPS Misses, Guides Lower, Blames Miss On Surge In Business, "Weather Events"

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/17/2014 - 09:06

Moments ago UPS released its Q4 earnings which missed EPS expectations of $1.43, printing at $1.25 instead

Starts Plunge 9.8% As Housing Permits Miss By Most In 7 Months

"Only A Dozen Customers Showed Up To Buy iPhones" - Apple's China Expansion Already A Flop

Futures Shake Off Weak Earnings, Levitate Higher: Global Market Summary

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 01/17/2014 - 07:10

Weak results from Intel, American Express and Capital One, not to mention Goldman and Citi? No problem: there's is overnight USDJPY levitation for that,