[AMRadio] Stopping a new threat : Ground Radial Theft

[Rob Atkinson]

OTOH, and this is no April Fool joke, I was telling a few folks
yesterday that I went to Lowes here yesterday afternoon to get some
sheet metal screws and went and looked at wire, because my supply of
#14 solid THHN was running low.  A 500 foot roll, was priced at FIFTY
THREE dollars!!  Never seen it that high.  My modest compromised
inverted L ground system that cost $90 in 2002 would be over $300
today.    Time to go to my local surplus store and see if they have
any wire cheap.  Fortunately I have a lot out in my garage but the
solid stuff is nice for some things.  Here's what's driving the price
from agmetalminer.com:

Copper seems to be a one-way bet the last six months.

The copper price has risen from a low of $4,371 per metric ton in
March last year to $8,631 per metric ton Friday on the LME.

According to Reuters, Goldman Sachs and Citi are doubling down on
their bull calls for the copper market. The banks have raised their
12-month price target to $10,000 per metric ton.

Copper price drivers:

Exchange-traded stocks are low. China has been buying voraciously as
its economy bounced back from the early spring 2020 lockdown.

Many bulls are touting the green revolution story as reasons to buy.
Automakers’ announcements of impending ends to the internal combustion
engine and a total switch to electric has fueled projections of
soaring demand.

Meanwhile, a lack of new mine investment over the last few years
leaves the supply landscape short of new projects to meet projected
demand.

73
Rob
K5UJ