Summary: The macro data from the past month continues to mostly point to positive growth. On balance, the evidence suggests the imminent onset of a recession is unlikely.
One concern in recent months had been housing, but revised data shows housing starts breaking above the flattening level that has existed over the past two years. A resumption in growth appears to be starting.
That leaves employment growth as the main watch out: employment growth is decelerating, from over 2% last year to 1.5% now. It's not alarming but it is noteworthy that expansions weaken before they end, and slowing employment growth is a sign of some weakening that bears monitoring.
A second watch out is demand growth. Real retail sales excluding gas is in a decelerating trend. In February, growth was just 1.8%. Personal consumption accounts for about 70% of GDP so weakening retail sales bears watching closely.
Overall, the main positives from the recent data are in employment, consumption growth and housing:
- Monthly employment gains have averaged 178,000 during the past year, with annual growth of 1.5% yoy. Full-time employment is leading.
- Recent compensation growth is among the highest in the past 8 years: 2.7% yoy in March.
- Most measures of demand show 2-3% real growth. Real personal consumption growth in February was 2.6%. Real retail sales (including gas) grew 2.8% yoy in February.
- Housing sales grew 13% yoy in February. Starts grew 6% over the past year.
- The core inflation rate is ticking higher but remains near the Fed's 2% target.
The main negatives are concentrated in the manufacturing sector (which accounts for less than 10% of employment):
- Core durable goods growth rose 3.4% yoy in February. It was weak during the winter of 2015-16 and is slowly rebounding in recent months.
- Industrial production has also been weak; it's flat yoy due to weakness in mining (oil and coal). The manufacturing component grew 1.4% yoy in February.
Continue Reading at The Fat Pitch
Listen to our latest interview with Urban Carmel, Frothy Sentiment Setting Up for “Final Wave”, by clicking here
