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The Next Bubble, Part II

By Rex Moore – Updated Apr 6, 2017 at 12:09AM

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Our readers sound off.

Last week I wrote a short article about the possibility of our next bubble coming from the world of higher education. As the website HowStuffWorks points out, skyrocketing tuition costs could lead to a backlash and plummeting enrollment.

Most of the article comments, however, leaned toward a slower decline for enrollment, and offered thoughts on other bubbles:

China will be the first bubble to burst. Education is a bubble too, but this one will deflate in slow motion. --zloj

[T]he Asia and related commodities bubble will burst first, and within the next year. Not that these aren't good long-term investments. But they're ahead of themselves. Higher education, like big government, will deflate, but in slow motion -- crushed by out-of-control costs and gradually abandoned by a middle class that's had enough. --neutrinoman

I also do not see a huge, 50%-plus enrollment decline akin to the stock declines seen by the likes of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) and Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) in the 2000 tech wreck or Citigroup (NYSE:C) and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) in last year's financial meltdown. But even a gradual decline of enrollments in traditional universities could provide a boost for community colleges and the less expensive alternatives -- Apollo Group (NASDAQ:APOL), ITT Educational Services (NYSE:ESI), etc.

What might be the next dramatic bursting? Here's a thought that has some support:

Gold, I think is the next bubble. It is being bought as if it is the solution to our economic crisis. --IsleGirl2010

If you have any thoughts on upcoming bubbles, please express yourself in the comments box below.

Fool analyst Rex Moore never bubbles in public. He owns no companies mentioned in this article. Apollo Group is a Motley Fool Inside Value pick. Try any of our Foolish newsletters today, free for 30 days.

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Stocks Mentioned

HP Inc. Stock Quote
HP Inc.
HPQ
$24.96 (-1.54%) $0.39
Citigroup Inc. Stock Quote
Citigroup Inc.
C
$42.99 (-2.87%) $-1.27
Bank of America Corporation Stock Quote
Bank of America Corporation
BAC
$31.03 (-2.21%) $0.70
Apollo Education Group, Inc. Stock Quote
Apollo Education Group, Inc.
APOL
ITT Educational Services Inc. Stock Quote
ITT Educational Services Inc.
ESINQ

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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