- PPI and CPI data collectively point to a 0.14% increase in the August core PCE deflator.
- Slowing wage growth, a margin squeeze and lower energy prices will return core inflation to 2% in Q2.
- Jobless claims have fallen since July, but hiring is dropping faster; expect even lower job growth in Q4.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The uptick in the core CPI in August largely was due to the reversal of erratic price falls in prior months.
- We expect smaller increases in primary rent, falling services inflation and flat goods prices through Q4.
- The CPI data tentatively imply a 0.22% core PCE, but will hone our forecast after today’s PPI data.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- We look for a 0.3% rise in the August core CPI, driven by rebounds in hospital charges and airline fares.
- Underlying core services inflation probably continued to decline, while goods prices likely rose weakly.
- The rebounding CPI components don’t feed into the core PCE, but the Fed still looks set to ease by 25bp.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Households plan to sustain 5% annualized nominal spending growth, despite income gains of just 3%...
- ...That requires people to slash the saving rate to a record low 1%, during a worsening labor market.
- NFIB’s headline index probably dipped in August on political news, but capex plans likely worsened too.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- August unemployment has often surprised to the upside, perhaps due to shifting seasonality…
- …But continuing claims and state-level data suggest unemployment overshot its trend in July.
- Growth in unit labor costs is now running well below 2%, pointing to weak underlying inflation.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Homebase data point to strong August payrolls, but most other indicators signal another weak print.
- Our 125K forecast for private payrolls will be unaffected by ADP’s estimate today, whatever it says.
- Q3 GDP looks set to rise at a modest 1½% rate, despite recent momentum in real consumption.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The details of the August ISM manufacturing survey are bleak, despite the uptick in the headline.
- Weakness in the manufacturing sector looks set to remain a small drag on payrolls and growth.
- The July JOLTS report will reinforce the message that the labor market is cooling.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The core PCE deflator undershot the Fed’s forecast yet again in July; expect more benign prints in H2.
- Recent strength in consumption lacks solid foundations; the saving rate will be higher a year from now.
- The ISM probably remained soft in August, pointing to weak growth in manufacturing employment
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The small recent rise in continuing claims suggests July’s unemployment rate was overestimated.
- We are pencilling in a 0.1pp dip in the rate to 4.2% in August, despite the worsening trend.
- The rapid 2.9% growth in consumers’ spending in Q2 looks unsustainable; expect a sharp slowdown.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- We look for little change in in initial jobless claims today, and a run of lower numbers this fall…
- …Leading indicators have improved and the seasonals will help; but lower hiring will slow job gains.
- The hit to growth from the rising trade deficit will be offset by boosts from inventories and investment.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- We look for a 0.13% rise in the July core PCE deflator, implying downside risk to the 0.2% consensus.
- Real consumption probably rose by 0.3% in July, setting up a strong base for growth in Q3…
- …But we expect a slowdown ahead, due to weak income growth and rising the saving rate.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Ignore the near-10% surge in headline durable goods orders in July; the details were weak…
- …Real core capital goods shipments fell by 0.5%, pointing to falling equipment investment in Q3.
- A hit to sentiment among Republicans probably weighed on overall consumer confidence in August.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Chair Powell probably will indicate at Jackson Hole that multiple rate cuts are likely this year.
- The S&P Global composite PMI has joined the raft of indicators pointing to weaker hiring.
- Existing home sales rebounded in July, but a sustained near-term recovery is unlikely.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The only question for September is the size of the Fed move; we still expect 25bp, but hope for 50.
- The downward revision to March payrolls is big, but this tells us very little about the near-term outlook.
- Existing home sales probably bounced in July, but are unlikely to climb much further in Q3.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Leading indicators suggest that the upturn in initial claims in recent months is petering out.
- But the slowdown in employment growth will likely continue, as companies continue to reduce hiring.
- Benchmark payroll revisions are unforecastable, but have been small in recent years.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Our Homebase model points to a 250K jump in August private payrolls, which looks implausible.
- Other labor market indicators are far less upbeat; we have pencilled in an increase of 125K.
- We expect a meagre rise in government payrolls this month, and see a sharp slowdown ahead.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- July’s drop in single-family starts was concentrated in the South, probably a hit from Hurricane Beryl...
- ..Still, the overhang of new home inventory points to a downturn in residential construction.
- Consumers’ confidence has picked up despite the stock market dip, pointing to solid spending growth.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Retail sales were strong in July, but weak consumer fundamentals still point to a slowdown ahead.
- The fall in initial claims distracts from the slowly rising trend; expect higher prints ahead.
- We think housing starts dipped in July, as rising inventory drove a drop in single-family construction.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The July CPI and PPI data collectively point to a mere 0.13% increase in the core PCE deflator...
- ...But seasonal adjustment now might be flattering the data; the dip in CPI hospital prices will unwind.
- We look today for a fall in July manufacturing output and a slight increase in initial jobless claims.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- PCE-relevant components of the PPI collectively rose in July at the slowest rate for 11 months.
- Hospital services prices will rebound soon, but core goods prices will drop as retailers’ margins contract.
- We look for a weak July retail sales report Thursday, with the control measure falling by 0.3%.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US