US Publications
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Core goods inflation unlikely to surge
Stronger sales reflect one-time boosts, underlying trend probably still weak
No sign of the labor market turning a corner.
- February’s solid retail sales likely were lifted by the weather and a short-lived boost from tax refunds.
- The underlying trend probably is still soft, and looks set to slow further amid the shock to energy prices.
- We think consumption growth of around 2% in Q1 will be followed by unchanged spending in Q2.
- February’s JOLTS report continues to paint a very weak picture of labor demand.
- The Conference Board survey’s job numbers also suggest payroll gains will remain very sluggish…
- …Putting further upward pressure on unemployment and undermining wage growth.
- February retail sales likely were boosted by a rebound in auto sales and the impact of higher gas prices.
- Sales likely also were boosted by bigger-than-usual tax refunds and unseasonably warm weather.
- But the underlying trend in core sales is weak, and likely to step down further as the energy shock bites.
- March payrolls will rebound after February’s drop, but a sustained strengthening is not in the cards.
- The end of a major strike will add 32K to March jobs, but recent support from mild weather is over.
- Claims data suggest the unemployment rate was stable in March, but the risks are to the upside.
- Low claims reflect few layoffs, but hiring is still too weak to absorb fully modest growth in labor supply.
- March business surveys point to Q1 GDP growth of about 2% in Q1...
- ...But the jump in oil prices has triggered a surge in inventory building, supporting demand only briefly.
Energy shock adding to the headwinds for growth and employment.
- The oil futures prices relevant for new capital investment have risen by much less than spot prices.
- Greater capital discipline means oil investment is less responsive to jumps in prices than in the past.
- Either way, oil and gas investment is a very small share of the overall economy.
- Calls that AI already justifies lower interest rates look ill-founded, given the limited productivity boost so far.
- AI might prove more disinflationary in the future, but the picture is highly uncertain.
- A faster “speed limit” for the economy seems more likely than much lower inflation and interest rates.
- The Q1 fall in households’ wealth implies a $50B hit to spending, equal to 0.2% of annual consumption.
- Spending on recreation services is closely correlated with changes in households’ wealth...
- ...and near-real time data indicate that food services spending is already taking a hit.
HIGHER GAS PRICES WILL HIT REAL INCOMES BY 1%
- THE FED WILL WORRY MORE ABOUT JOBS THAN THE CPI IN Q4
- The 1990 oil shock was key to the ensuing recession; the FOMC eventually eased despite 6% inflation.
- The economy is less oil intensive and firms’ balance sheets are more robust now; a recession is unlikely...
- ...But this FOMC has been very responsive to labor market weakness; we still expect easing by year-end.
- Higher gas prices look set to reduce real household incomes by roughly $15B a month.
- Tax refunds will boost incomes by about $10B year-over-year in February to April, but taper off thereafter.
- Bigger refunds also will do little to help lower income households hit hardest by higher gas prices.
- The median FOMC member still expects to ease policy by 25bp this year, unchanged from December.
- The new, higher forecasts for core PCE inflation are plausible, but those for stable unemployment are not.
- PPI data show retailers have passed on all the tariff costs to consumers; margins back on track.
- We think headline CPI inflation would soar to 6% if oil prices hit $150, with core PCE inflation rising to 31/2%.
- The jump implies a hit to GDP of just over 1pp, probably lifting the unemployment rate to about 5%.
- We think the Fed would wait until next spring to deliver the 75bp easing we expect this year in our base case.
Little to cheer for homebuilders.
Underlying manufacturing output still looks anemic.
