by Calculated Risk on 11/07/2010 08:30:00 AM

A summary of last week - mostly in graphs. NOTE: The graphs in this summary post link to a new Gallery graphics tool (Thanks Ken!). This Gallery is a collection of current graphs from the blog. There are tabs for several categories: Employment, New home Sales, etc. Enjoy!

QE2 Arrives, $600 Billion by end of Q2 2011

Statement from the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee
Details from the NY Fed: Statement Regarding Purchases of Treasury Securities
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke in the WaPo: What the Fed did and why: supporting the recovery and sustaining price stability

Fannie, Freddie, FHA REO Inventory Increases Sharply

The combined REO (Real Estate Owned) inventory for Fannie, Freddie and the FHA increased by 24% at the end of Q3 2010 compared to Q2 2010. The REO inventory increased 92% compared to Q3 2009 (year-over-year comparison).

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

This graph shows the REO inventory for Fannie, Freddie and FHA through Q3 2010.

The REO inventory for the "Fs" has increased sharply over the last year, from 153,007 at the end of Q3 2009 to a record 293,171 at the end of Q3 2010.

This is just a portion of the total REO inventory. Private label securities and banks and thrifts also hold a substantial number of REOs. The REO inventory will probably increase sharply in Q4 too.

October Employment Report: 151,000 Jobs, 9.6% Unemployment Rate

From the BLS:

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 151,000 in October, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Both August and September payroll employment were revised up.

This graph shows the job losses from the start of the employment recession, in percentage terms aligned at the bottom of the recession (Both the 1991 and 2001 recessions were flat at the bottom, so the choice was a little arbitrary).

The dotted line shows payroll employment excluding temporary Census workers.

This graph shows the employment-population ratio, and the partcipation and unemployment rates. The unemployment rate has been stuck at 9.6% for three straight months.

The Employment-Population ratio declined to 58.3% in October from 58.5% in September. This is disappointing news.

Note: the graph doesn't start at zero to better show the change.

The Labor Force Participation Rate also declined to 64.5% in October from 64.7% in September. This is the percentage of the working age population in the labor force. The participation rate is well below the 66% to 67% rate that was normal over the last 20 years.

The number of workers only able to find part time jobs (or have had their hours cut for economic reasons) declined to 9.154 million in October, from the record 9.472 million in September. This is still very high.

These workers are included in the alternate measure of labor underutilization (U-6) that decreased to 17.0% in October from 17.1% in September. The high for U-6 was 17.4% in October 2009. Still grim.

This graph shows the number of workers unemployed for 27 weeks or more.

According to the BLS, there are 6.206 million workers who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks and still want a job. This was up from 6.123 million in September. It appears the number of long term unemployed has peaked ... although this may be because people are giving up.

Employment Summary
The underlying details of the employment report were mixed. The positive included the 151,000 payroll jobs added, the upward revisions to August and September, a slight uptick in hours worked and average hourly earnings, and a slight decline in part time workers (and slight decline in U-6 unemployment).

The negatives include the declines in the employment-population ratio and the participation rate, the increase in workers unemployed for over 26 weeks, and the unemployment rate still flat at a very high level. This report was a clear improvement from the previous four months, but this was still a fairly soft report.

U.S. Light Vehicle Sales 12.26 million SAAR in October

Based on an estimate from Autodata Corp, light vehicle sales were at a 12.26 million SAAR in October. That is up 17.9% from October 2009, and up 4.7% from the September 2010 sales rate.

This graph shows the historical light vehicle sales (seasonally adjusted annual rate) from the BEA (blue) and an estimate for October (red, light vehicle sales of 12.26 million SAAR from Autodata Corp).

This is the highest sales rate since September 2008, excluding Cash-for-clunkers in August 2009.

This was above most forecasts of around 12.0 million SAAR.

ISM non-Manufacturing Index increases in October

This graph shows the ISM non-manufacturing index (started in January 2008) and the ISM non-manufacturing employment diffusion index.

The October ISM Non-manufacturing index was at 54.3%, up from 53.2% in September - and above expectations of 54.0%. The employment index showed expansion in October at 50.9%, up from 50.2% in September. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 contraction.

Q3 2010: Homeownership Rate at 1999 Levels

The Census Bureau reported the homeownership and vacancy rates for Q3 2010 this week.

The homeownership rate was at 66.9%, the same level as in Q2. This is at about the level of early 1999.

Note: graph starts at 60% to better show the change.

The homeowner vacancy rate was at 2.5% in Q3 2010. This is the same level as in Q2, and below the of 2.9% in 2008. The rental vacancy rate declined to 10.3% in Q3 2010 from 10.6% in Q2.

Other Economic Stories ...

From ADP: Private Employment increases by 43,000 in October

From the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC): Across-the-Board Improvement in the Apartment Industry, According to NMHC Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions

From the Institute for Supply Management: ISM Manufacturing Index increases to 56.9 in October

From the American Bankruptcy Institute: October Consumer Bankruptcy Filings increase slightly from Previous Month

From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Index declines 1.8% in September

Unofficial Problem Bank list at 894 Institutions

Best wishes to all.