The Bulletproof Wealth Report model portfolio is continuing to perform well and is now up 27.4% since the inception of our monthly newsletter on April 13, 2018.
Although the value of our model portfolio has not yet risen to its July 16, 2019 high, it has risen by 56.6% from its mid-March low. In comparison, the S&P 500 Total Return Index has risen by 49.7% since its mid-March low.
In regard to economic developments that I expect to impact my recommended stocks over the next couple of months, the Federal Reserve announced last Tuesday that industrial production at U.S. factories, mines and utilities rose for the fourth consecutive month during August.
Separately, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported on Tuesday that its early September survey of purchasing managers employed by manufacturing companies located in New York, Connecticut and northern New Jersey indicates that manufacturing activity in that area of the United States will increase for the third consecutive month during the full month of September.
And, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia announced on September 17 that its early September survey of purchasing managers employed by manufacturing companies located in Philadelphia, southern New Jersey and Delaware indicates that manufacturing activity in that area of the United States will increase for the fourth consecutive month during the full month of September.
On another positive note, data released on September 16 by the U.S. Department of Commerce indicates that sales at U.S. retail stores rose for the fourth consecutive month during August, increasing by 1.2%, as compared to the same month a year ago.
The University of Michigan announced last Friday that Americans became more optimistic during the first half of September regarding their personal financial situations, job prospects and outlook for the U.S. economy.
As a result, I expect retail sales, and personal spending to continue to increase at a healthy pace during the months ahead.
That would be a positive development as personal spending in the United States accounts for approximately 68% to 70% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Lastly, the National Association of Realtors (NAHB) announced on September 16 that its Housing Market Index rose for the fifth consecutive month during the first half of September, while the interests (traffic) expressed by prospective buyers of new homes rose to the highest level since at least January 1985 — when the NAHB began collecting such data.
The positive economic developments mentioned above suggest that stock prices in general, including the stocks in the Bulletproof Wealth Report portfolio, will continue to trend higher through at least the November 3, 2020 U.S. elections.
