Plunging Oil Prices A Reality Check.

[icyfroth]

Citizens Electoral Council of Australia
Media Release Thursday, 22 January 2015

Just as the oil market can crash, so can the property market

The plunging oil price that is down by more than half in six months is a reality check to Australian home buyers.

It is a reminder that markets can go down as fast, and often faster, than they go up.

The plunge also proves that the high price for the past decade was artificial—bearing no relation to cost of production or to supply and demand. (This means that every time Australians filled up since 2004 they were ripped off by the global oil cartel and commodity speculators.)

It is because the high oil price was artificial that nothing has been able to stop its recent plunge.

Another market looks remarkably similar—Australian property.

Beginning in 2000, Australian property prices suddenly shot up. Contrary to the self-serving analysis of banks and investment spruikers, it was not related in any way to supply and demand.

In 2000, the Australian population was slightly less than 20 million; by 2013 it reached 23 million. Yet in that time property prices tripled, quadrupled and quintupled, depending upon the city.

The ratio of household income to property exploded from 3.5 times in 2000—the long-term average—to 9 times in Sydney and Melbourne.

Most of that increase was between 2000 and 2004, which underscores that this was disconnected from demand driven by population growth.

Instead, it was driven entirely by a massive flow of money into the property market—just like the oil market.

(The flow of money into the Australian property market was caused by a combination of government policy and bank speculation.)

Millions of Australians are trapped with mortgages on overpriced properties that they can just barely afford because interest rates are at record lows; in fact at “emergency levels”.

They could suddenly find themselves with properties worth less than half of what they owe on them.

This would be a catastrophe for mortgage-holders, but it would be a bigger catastrophe for the banks—which caused it—and the flow-on effect would be a catastrophe for the Australian financial system.

This looming danger is one of the major reasons why Australia needs a Glass-Steagall separation of Australia’s banking system, in which all retail banking is completely separated from investment banking.

This is the only way to ensure that, when the crash happens, the government will be able to step in and keep retail banking functioning, so that the daily economy can keep functioning, and keep homebuyers and tenants in their homes.

If enacted now, ahead of the crash, it will force speculators out of the housing market, which will bring down house prices, but that will make housing more affordable again—just like petrol.

For those so trapped in a high mortgage that this is scary, be assured that wishful thinking won’t keep prices up. The oil plunge shows that they can and will crash anyway. Your only hope is to fight for the Glass-Steagall policy so that the plunge in housing doesn’t wipe you and everyone else out.

 http://cecaust.com.au/releases/2015_01_22_Aus_Mortgages.html

A few points worth pondering there.

[idlewhile]

So glad Hockey topped up the reserves of the reserve bank after Swan drained it. We need it to protect our institiuions that keep the economy running.

Joe Hockey warned of the headwinds coming our way in his "end of entitlement" speech in London but all we are getting from Labor and the Greens is:

Don't touch our entitlements, leave our welfare alone.

[cherry*135]

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@this-one-time-at-bandcamp wrote:

The high oil prices in the last decade was due to Middle East providing most of it, not much competition.

It was based on speculation, more than actual supply and demand.  Every time there was a conflict, or even an event like a hurricane, or platform fire, the perception was that there would be a shortage, and world spot prices jumped.

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Conflicts can have an effect on supply?

Up until very recently, however, that US oil boom — along with increases in Canada and Russia — had a fairly minimal effect on global prices. That's because, at the exact same time, geopolitical conflicts were flaring up in key oil regions. There was a civil war in Libya. Iraq was a mess. The US and Europe slapped oil sanctions on Iran and pinched that country's exports. Those conflicts took more than 3 million barrels per day off the market.

Either way it is good to have lower petrol prices at present. From $1.70 per litre to $1.10 approx, depending on what type of petrol you buy.

Joe Hockey, Australian treasurer -- The poorest people either don't have cars or actually don't drive very far in many cases..

Not much demand for petrol from poor people then, Joe! That pollie is a buffon.

Then we have the Govt Bowser Bandits - introducing a new fuel excise tax withouth getting it passed in Senate first, a tax which we have to pay GST on.

[idlewhile]

The USA actually export their own oil. 

[cherry*135]

Yes, which is why the petrol prices are lower as the OCED is  competing with supply from the US now.

As posted above

Oil prices keep plummeting as OPEC starts a price war with US

[this-one-time-at-bandcamp]

There are rumblings that the Saudis and the US are in cahoots, lowering oil prices to punish Putin and the Ruskies.........

[myoclon1cjerk]

The Saudi's are only one of 12 members of OPEC.The decision to lower or raise oil prices by member countries has to be unanimous.

[this-one-time-at-bandcamp]

The Saudi's are only one of 12 members of OPEC.The decision to lower or raise oil prices by member countries has to be unanimous.

In theory, yes.........but where Saudi Arabia leads, the others follow.......

[k0llectable5]

Agreed Icy, there are a few ponderable points therein... 🙂  

Beginning in 2000, Australian property prices suddenly shot up. Contrary to the self-serving analysis of banks and investment spruikers, it was not related in any way to supply and demand.

Most of that increase was between 2000 and 2004, which underscores that this was disconnected from demand driven by population growth.

Instead, it was driven entirely by a massive flow of money into the property market—just like the oil market.

(The flow of money into the Australian property market was caused by a combination of government policy and bank speculation.)

I'll never forget that housing boom of the mid 2000's I was living in an area where, overnight the housing prices doubled and nearly tripled in some parts... 

I know very little of economics, but all one needs to do is research how money comes into existence. Every dollar is printed with debt attached to it... You hear people banging on about debt all the time, reducing the debt, the country has too much debt ect Yet the system is designed to create perpetual debt, it's madness...

[joz*garage]

reading with interest

i thought there were less demand for fuel or something

poeple opting for alternative transport

[idlewhile]

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@am*3 wrote:

Yes, which is why the petrol prices are lower as the OCED is  competing with supply from the US now.

As posted above

Oil prices keep plummeting as OPEC starts a price war with US

I actually know that but thanks for repeating it in bold type.