- The surge in stock prices is lifting small business sentiment, but the hard activity numbers are weaker.
- Inventories look set to be a big drag on Q4 GDP growth, but the extent of the hit is very uncertain.
- November’s surge in revolving credit use could just be noise, but another big gain will signal distress.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
Behind the headline, the trend in job growth is slowing, with more softening to come.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The labor market is weaker than the headline December jobs numbers, but it’s hardly terrible.
- Either way, the Fed’s policy decisions will be driven more by the inflation numbers than the jobs data.
- The soft December ISM services survey is not definitive, but a repeat in January would get our attention.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Homebase signals December payroll growth of about 225K; no sign of further weakening yet.
- That said, a disproportionate share of this increase likely will come from healthcare and education jobs.
- The ISM services index likely ticked higher in December, but a steady softening in 2024 is a decent bet.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Jobless claims will be wild over the next few weeks; the underlying trend won’t emerge until mid-January.
- Leading indicators of claims are mixed, but claims are more likely to rise than fall over the next few months.
- The ADP is a deeply unreliable guide to the official payroll numbers; we recommend you ignore it.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The December ISM manufacturing index likely fell, leaving it broadly in line with the cycle low…
- …But falling interest rates likely will lift capital spending and manufacturing activity in 2024.
- The Fed minutes are unlikely to reveal anything new, but we continue to expect rate cuts as early as March.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The November PCE report highlights the significant downside risk to the Fed’s inflation forecast.
- The Fed eventually will have little choice to ease by more than their current forecast of 75bp this year.
- Housing and manufacturing activity are near a floor, but any recovery will be slow going.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
WHEN DO THEY START, AND HOW FAST DO THEY GO?
- ...INFLATION IS BEATEN; RATES ARE A ONE-WAY RIDE
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- We think the core PCE deflator rose by only 0.11% in November; the trend is slowing sharply.
- Consumers’ spending is still rising, but the rate of growth is moderating after the Q3 jump.
- Aircraft and autos likely lifted November orders, but expect a soft core.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
Layoffs still very depressed, but people are finding it harder to secure new jobs.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The latest WARN data suggest layoffs remain low, but seasonals will lift initial claims in the next few weeks…
- …And rising continuing claims suggest people who lose their jobs are taking longer to find new positions.
- The jump in December confidence tells us that people like cheaper gas and rising stocks; who knew?
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
People really like a rising stock market and falling gas prices
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- FOMC speeches move markets, but they are not a reliable guide to what will happen in three months.
- The surge in November single-family starts is noise, not signal; expect a correction in December.
- People’s uneasiness over the labor market signals a gradually upward trend in unemployment.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Homebase signals December payroll growth of about 225K; no sign of further weakening yet.
- Lower rates are beginning to cheer homebuilders, who will gain further market share as home sales rise.
- Single-family construction is rebounding, fitfully, but the multi-family rollover has further to go.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The Fed’s forecasts imply remarkable stability in GDP growth and unemployment for the next three years…
- …They are likely to be wrong, and the risks to their numbers for next year are mostly to the downside.
- Homebuilders’ sentiment likely is rebounding as mortgage rates drop, with more to come.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Retail sales data suggest Q4 consumption is on course for a 2½% gain, but that could change.
- Households’ real liquid assets are back to their pre-Covid trend; the pandemic excess is gone.
- Manufacturing production likely rebounded strongly last month after the UAW strike, but the trend is flat.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Chair Powell says the Fed is done—probably—but still doesn’t want to talk about when they’ll ease.
- The inflation forecasts still look very cautious, and likely will be undershot.
- Headline November retail sales constrained by cheaper gas, but the core likely was soft too.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
Margins have stopped rising, but yet to start falling, auto dealers excepted.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US