Macro-Economics

The Bank Credit Analyst (BCA) has analyzed employment data by each state and their analysis suggests the labor market isn’t as strong as it appears on the surface. BCA weights each state’s unemployment rate by the size of its labor force in order to create a synthetic national unemployment. BCA...

After the FOMC lowered the Funds rate by 0.50% at the September 18 meeting Wall Street quickly jumped on the 0.50% bandwagon and expected the FOMC would deliver another large cut at the meeting on November 6 or at the December 18 meeting. There were a number of reasons why this was unlikely....

In coming months the pace and size of rate cuts will be totaling dependent on future economic data. In his post FOMC press conference Chair Powell made this point clearly. “In considering additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the...

In July the labor market softened notably with job growth falling to 114,000 from 179,000 and the Unemployment Rate jumping from 4.1% to 4.3%. My guess was that the labor market would show some improvement in August as noted last week. “ I think the larger risk is that the Unemployment Rate...

The Path of Monetary Policy

Travel is the embodiment of discretionary spending and it provides a reflection of how people feel about their personal finances and the economy. In 2019 (pink line) 2,500,000 people were traveling leading up...

During the press conference after the July 31 FOMC meeting Chair Powell did his best to avoid providing any hint about a rate cut at the September meeting as I suggested last week. “ Based on Chair Powell’s statements I think Chair Powell will avoid providing any hints since he doesn’t want to...

In the 1954 movie “ The High and the Mighty ” a flight from Honolulu to San Francisco loses one of the four engines and the loss of gas. The engine crisis occurs just beyond the point of no return. The point of no return is where the option to turn back is no longer...

The first estimate of second quarter GDP was stronger than expected with growth pegged at 2.8% compared to 1.4% in the first quarter. After subtracting -0.42% from GDP in the first quarter inventories were rebuilt in the second quarter and added +0.82% to GDP. I discussed how a decline in...

Prior to an FOMC meeting the Federal Reserve’s staff compiles the ‘Beige Book’ for FOMC members. Each of the 12 Federal Reserve districts contacts businesses within their district for an assessment of the economy and gathers economic data pertinent to that district. That information is sent to...

In June the Headline CPI declined by -0.1% led by declines in Gasoline (-3.9%), Oil (-3.8%), Airline Fares (-5.7%), and a moderation in Shelter inflation from an increase of 0.4% in May to 0.2% in June. The decline in Shelter inflation brought monthly Core down to 0.1% from 0.2% in June. On a...

Services comprise 80% of GDP so changes in the level of growth in services will determine when and how much the economy slows. One month doesn’t make a trend but it can offer a clue. In June the ISM Services Index declined from 53.8 in May to 48.8 in June a rather large drop in one month....

The expert and you are in a car and the expert is driving. After awhile, you notice that the expert is driving the car by looking through the rearview mirror. Concerned you ask him why he’s not looking ahead as he drives. He replies...

Wall Street has been obsessed with guessing when the FOMC will lower the Funds rate for the first time and the number of times in 2024. It’s been an instructive process. In December many on Wall Street forecast the FOMC would make the first rate cut at the March...

Wall Street is convinced that the economy will strengthen in the second half of 2024 and enable earnings to grow by more than 10% in 2024. The increase in confidence is doubling interesting since recent data has consistently been weaker than forecast.

The Citi Economic Surprise Index (...

In the April Macro Tides I reviewed previous statements Chair Powell had made in speeches and during his post FOMC meeting press conferences and highlighted the emphasis he placed on the importance of confidence. “In speeches, testimony before Congress,...

The Labor Department reported an increase of 303,000 jobs in March which was well above the Wall Street’s estimate of 200,000. Other aspects of the report were improved with the average work week ticking up to 34.4 hours from 34.3, and the Unemployment Rate falling to 3.8% from 3.9% in February...

The evolution of rate cut enthusiasm in 2024 is an example of investors anticipating what will happen only to be proven wrong. The irony is that professionals on Wall Street frequently cite the Federal Funds rate futures as a basis for their outlook for monetary...

In last week’s WTR I reviewed a number of economic reports which showed a softening in the economy, CNN’s Fear & Greed index showing investment sentiment had entered the Extreme Greed Zone, and Warren Buffet’s view that “ markets now exhibit far more casino-like behavior than they did when...