- 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’s Jackson Hole speech foreshadows a rapid easing of policy in the coming months.
- Headline durable goods orders likely jumped in July, but the details will be far less impressive.
- New home sales reportedly surged last month, but are unlikely to keep on climbing.
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
- July PPI data likely to reverse to June’s jump in retailers’ gross margins; a profit squeeze lies ahead.
- The NFIB survey likely will show small firms remain under intense pressure from high interest rates.
- Inflation expectations are trending down, but the plunge in the NY Fed’s three-year measure is noise.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- We look for a 0.2% increase in the July core CPI, with the risks tilted towards a lower print.
- Prices for hotels and air travel likely continued to fall; June’s small rise in rents probably was repeated.
- Core goods prices likely edged down again, driven by further falls in both new and used vehicle prices.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The first estimate of GDP growth was positive at the start of the last three normal recessions...
- ...Payrolls provided a much better near-real time guide; they are not flashing bright red, for now.
- Initial claims still point to a resilient economy, but a run of higher prints this autumn remains likely.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- We look for a decline in initial claims to 235K, from 249K, as the boost from Hurricane Beryl wears off...
- ...The trend in initial claims is rising, but daily Homebase employment data present no cause for panic.
- The latest plunge in Treasury yields likely will support housing market activity only marginally.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- A 5% stock price fall usually knocks confidence enough to lower real consumer spending growth by about 0.5pp.
- Associated falls in interest rates will do less than usual to bolster confidence, as households are less indebted.
- Bank lending standards are now tightening at a slower pace, but they remain very restrictive.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- Economic and market conditions usually have been worse than now to trigger an emergency Fed meeting...
- ...But rates are far above neutral and the next meeting is six weeks out; Mr. Powell will act if markets deteriorate.
- July’s ISM services survey kept recession fears at bay, but it still strongly supports the case for Fed easing.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
- The deep-rooted weakness in July’s labor market data signals that the Fed has waited too long to ease.
- Increases in the unemployment rate usually gather self-reinforcing momentum once they exceed 0.5pp.
- We maintain our long-held call for 125bp of Fed easing this year; it’s 50/50 whether they begin with 50bp.
Ian Shepherdson (Chief Economist, Chairman and Founder)US
