In this appearance on the And We Know show, Dr. Kirk Elliott examines the pressure building in the U.S. economy and what it means for precious metals. He focuses on the standoff over interest rates, noting that a higher-for-longer stance makes it harder to stimulate growth, and explains why a weak bond market has historically preceded trouble for stocks. Elliott points to signs of strain, including the weakest consumer confidence reading in decades, a wave of corporate layoffs and business closures, and a rise in zombie foreclosures that could add supply to an already soft housing market. Even in an environment where higher rates would normally weigh on metals, he observes that gold and silver have been climbing, which he attributes to inflation and basic supply and demand outweighing the interest-rate story. He encourages a long-term, fundamentals-based perspective and invites viewers to schedule a consultation with the KEPM team.