Behind the headline, the trend in job growth is slowing, with more softening to come.
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
- 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
Margins have stopped rising, but yet to start falling, auto dealers excepted.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The gap between the GDI and GDP numbers is unusually large by historic standards...
- ...Undercounting of interest payments means that big upward revisions to GDI are a good bet.
- ISM services signals modest and steady growth, but hints at a hefty bounce in October payrolls.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US