by Calculated Risk on 2/10/2018 08:11:00 AM

The key economic reports this week are January Housing Starts, Retail Sales and the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

For manufacturing, January industrial production, and the February New York, and Philly Fed manufacturing surveys, will be released this week.

----- Monday, Feb 12th -----
No major economic releases scheduled.

----- Tuesday, Feb 13th -----
6:00 AM ET: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index for January.

----- Wednesday, Feb 14th -----
7:00 AM ET: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the mortgage purchase applications index.

8:30 AM ET: Retail sales for January will be released.  The consensus is for a 0.3% increase in retail sales.

This graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993. Retail and Food service sales, ex-gasoline, increased by 4.9% on a YoY basis in December.

8:30 AM: The Consumer Price Index for January from the BLS. The consensus is for a 0.3% increase in CPI, and a 0.2% increase in core CPI.

10:00 AM: Manufacturing and Trade: Inventories and Sales (business inventories) report for December.  The consensus is for a 0.2% increase in inventories.

----- Thursday, Feb 15th -----
8:30 AM ET: The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released.  The consensus is for 229 thousand initial claims, up from 221 thousand the previous week.

8:30 AM: the Philly Fed manufacturing survey for February. The consensus is for a reading of 21.5, down from 22.2.

8:30 AM: The Producer Price Index for January from the BLS. The consensus is a 0.4% increase in PPI, and a 0.2% increase in core PPI.

8:30 AM ET: The New York Fed Empire State manufacturing survey for February. The consensus is for a reading of 17.5, down from 17.7.

9:15 AM: The Fed will release Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization for January.

This graph shows industrial production since 1967.

The consensus is for a 0.2% increase in Industrial Production, and for Capacity Utilization to increase to 78.0%.

10:00 AM: The February NAHB homebuilder survey. The consensus is for a reading of  72, unchanged from 72 in January. Any number above 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor.

----- Friday, Feb 16th -----
8:30 AM: Housing Starts for January.

This graph shows single and total housing starts since 1968.

The consensus is for 1.230 million SAAR, up from 1.192 million SAAR.

10:00 AM: University of Michigan's Consumer sentiment index (Preliminary for February). The consensus is for a reading of 95.5, down from 95.7.

by Calculated Risk on 2/09/2018 05:57:00 PM

Below is a table showing selected operating statistics for eight large, publicly-traded builders for the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

From housing economist Tom Lawler:

	Net Orders			Settlements			Average Closing Price $ (000s)
Qtr. Ended:	12/17	12/16	% Chg	12/17	12/16	% Chg	12/17	12/16	% Chg
D.R. Horton	10,753	9,241	16.4%	10,788	9,404	14.7%	295	297	-0.8%
Pulte Group	4,805	4,202	14.4%	6,632	6,197	7.0%	410	391	4.9%
NVR	4,306	3,645	18.1%	4,630	4,419	4.8%	387	381	1.5%
Cal Atlantic	3,407	2,848	19.6%	4,557	4,338	5.0%	460	447	2.9%
Beazer Homes	1,110	1,005	10.4%	1,066	995	7.1%	345	338	2.1%
Meritage Homes	1,795	1,492	20.3%	2,253	2,117	6.4%	410	414	-1.0%
MDC Holdings	1,252	1,018	23.0%	1,556	1,582	-1.6%	452	453	-0.2%
M/I Homes	1,220	999	22.1%	1,584	1,416	11.9%	372	356	4.5%
Total	28,648	24,450	17.2%	33,066	30,468	8.5%	374	370	1.1%

by Calculated Risk on 2/09/2018 03:59:00 PM

A few comments from Steven Kopits of Princeton Energy Advisors LLC on Feb 9, 2018:

• Total US oil rigs were up an astounding +26 to 791

• Horizontal oil rigs were similarly up, +18 to 686
...
• The Permian added 9 horizontal oil rigs, the major plays added 5, ‘Other’ added 4.

• The oil price collapsed this week, falling almost $7 / barrel in the last five days.

• Very bearish.

Click on graph for larger image.

CR note: This graph shows the US horizontal rig count by basin.

Graph and comments Courtesy of Steven Kopits of Princeton Energy Advisors LLC.

by Calculated Risk on 2/09/2018 01:47:00 PM

CR note: Earlier this week, I wrote Prime Working-Age Population At New Peak, First Time Since 2007. As I noted, my graph was based on data from the BLS.

Housing economist Tom Lawler pointed out that the BLS data doesn't match the Census data. He wrote: "The reason the BLS population data don't jive with the latest Census population estimates is that there have been numerous and in some cases sizable revisions in population estimates from those first reported, and the BLS does NOT go back and adjust historical data for revisions. In re last decade, there were a string of downward population revisions."

Here is a table of the recent Census estimates for the prime working age population (Vintage 2016). Note: The Vintage 2017 has been released, but not by age.

In general, the data shows the same pattern as the data from the BLS (although the details are different) - the prime working age population was mostly flat in the 2010 to 2014 period (due to demographics, not the great recession), and the prime working age population is now growing again (although this may be impacted by immigration policies going forward). This is important because slower working age population growth impacts GDP. See Demographics and GDP: 2% is the new 4%

Prime Working Age Population, Census Vintage 2016
As of July 1	25 to 54	Annual Change
2000	122,972,314
2001	123,909,542	0.8%
2002	123,982,489	0.1%
2003	124,217,955	0.2%
2004	124,696,761	0.4%
2005	125,260,089	0.5%
2006	125,925,139	0.5%
2007	126,449,632	0.4%
2008	126,860,406	0.3%
2009	127,078,241	0.2%
2010	127,191,778	0.1%
2011	127,209,296	0.0%
2012	127,144,275	-0.1%
2013	127,134,500	0.0%
2014	127,302,008	0.1%
2015	127,578,973	0.2%
2016	127,934,078	0.3%

by Calculated Risk on 2/09/2018 10:41:00 AM

Watching existing home "for sale" inventory is very helpful. As an example, the increase in inventory in late 2005 helped me call the top for housing.

And the decrease in inventory eventually helped me correctly call the bottom for house prices in early 2012, see: The Housing Bottom is Here.

And in 2015, it appeared the inventory build in several markets was ending, and that boosted price increases. 

I don't have a crystal ball, but watching inventory helps understand the housing market.

The graph below shows the year-over-year change for non-contingent inventory in Las Vegas through January 2018, Phoenix and Sacramento (January 2018 not available yet for Phoenix and Sacramento), and also total existing home inventory as reported by the NAR (through December 2017).

Click on graph for larger image.

This shows the year-over-year change in inventory for Phoenix, Sacramento, and Las Vegas.  The black line if the year-over-year change in inventory as reported by the NAR.

Inventory has increased recently in Sacramento (still very low), but is down Nationally, and in Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Inventory is a key for the housing market, and I will be watching inventory for the impact of the new tax law and higher mortgage rates on housing.

by Calculated Risk on 2/09/2018 09:20:00 AM

A few brief excerpts from a note by Merrill Lynch economists: The $1 trillion dollar budget deficit

The latest developments in Washington imply that the budget deficit will continue to swell in the coming years. The bipartisan Senate agreement would boost spending cap levels for defense and non-defense programs over the next two years by roughly $300bn. As a first pass at estimating the impact on the deficit forecast, we think it would [bring] deficits to $825bn and $1,070bn. This will translate to one of the largest budget deficits during an expansion and, by far, the largest when the economy is at full employment.
...
The Senate agreement also suspends the debt limit and staves off a potential Treasury default, which we projected would occur in early March without an increase. The “suspension” of the debt limit does not set a new level for the amount of debt outstanding, but instead sets a date on which the debt limit will be reinitiated. Press reports indicate that the debt limit will be suspended until March 2019, which removes this issue until Congress gets beyond the mid-term elections in November. ...

What do higher deficits mean for the economy and markets? The first order impact is greater Treasury supply ... [Merrill] expect the Treasury will look to boost its bill financing and see risks to more near-term supply due to a higher cash balance. These developments further the view of our rates strategy team for higher Treasury rates and a steeper curve. For the economy, a higher deficit will boost near term growth, though it will also threaten to “crowd out” private investment.

The US had trillion dollar deficits in the fiscal years during and just following the great recession. Those deficits peaked at close to 10% of GDP; this deficit will be around 5% of GDP, but still very high during the later stages of an expansion.

by Calculated Risk on 2/08/2018 07:55:00 PM

From CNBC: White House instructs government agencies to prepare for shutdown

The Trump administration instructed federal agencies to get ready for a possible government shutdown as Congress moved closer to the midnight Thursday deadline without passing a funding bill, CNBC confirmed.

An Office of Management and Budget official said the office is preparing for funding to lapse as a Senate stalemate drags on with only hours until current funding expires. The Trump administration supports the massive bipartisan budget deal working its way through Congress and wants lawmakers to pass it, the official said.

Some government agencies will run out of money and have to furlough workers if Congress lets funding lapse. A shutdown would be the second in less than a month.

Hundreds of thousands of workers would not go into work Friday if a shutdown takes place through the start of the day. Others would have to work without getting paid at first.

If the shutdown happens - and doesn't end quickly - several agencies will probably not release regular government reports. There are no major economic releases scheduled for tomorrow (Friday), so there will probably be no impact on data if the shutdown ends before Monday morning.

If the shutdown continues, the following week Housing Starts, CPI and Retail Sales will all probably be delayed.  Also, next week is the reference week for the February employment report, and that report will probably be delayed if the data isn't gathered on a timely basis.

Private data will still be released. All Federal Reserve data will continue to be released (separate funding).

Also, the DOL will continue to process unemployment claims and release the weekly initial unemployment claims report.

by Calculated Risk on 2/08/2018 04:37:00 PM

From the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Rail Time Indicators. Graphs and excerpts reprinted with permission.

January wasn’t the best start of the year in terms of volume that railroads could hope for, but there’s certainly no reason to panic yet either. Total U.S. carloads were down 3.4%, or 42,431 carloads, in January 2018 from January 2017. The overall decrease was due largely to declines for coal (down 5.8%, or 25,083 carloads), motor vehicles and parts (down 10.1%, or 8,372 carloads), and grain (down 5.8%, or 6,917 carloads). ... Intermodal picked up where it left off last year (when it set a new annual record) with volume in January 2018 up 3.5%, or 44,183 containers and trailers, over January 2017 and marking the best January for intermodal in history. Winter weather negatively impacted rail traffic in January in many areas, but it’s impossible to precisely calculate how much, if any, of January’s decline is weather related.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph from the Rail Time Indicators report shows U.S. average weekly rail carloads (NSA).  Light blue is 2018.

Rail carloads have been weak over the last decade due to the decline in coal shipments.

U.S. railroads originated 1,217,405 carloads in January 2018, down 3.4% (42,431 carloads) from January 2017. It’s the sixth year-over-year monthly decline in the past seven months and the largest percentage decline. Total carloads averaged 243,481 per week in January 2018; since 1988, when our U.S. data begin, only 2016 had a lower weekly average in January. This year, extreme cold and blizzards negatively impacted carloads in January in many parts of the country, though to be fair winter weather is a problem most years. It’s not possible to precisely determine how much of January’s decline might be attributable to the weather.

The second graph is for intermodal traffic (using intermodal or shipping containers):

Following up on a record-setting 2017, 2018 started well for intermodal. Volume in January 2018 was 1.31 million containers and trailers, up 3.5%, or 44,183 units, over January 2017. Average weekly volume in January 2018 was 262,028 units, the most for a January in history.

by Calculated Risk on 2/08/2018 10:47:00 AM

From the MBA: Mortgage Delinquency Rate Up in 4th Quarter; Hurricanes Drive Up 60-Day and 90-Day Delinquencies

The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.17 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the fourth quarter of 2017.

The delinquency rate was up 29 basis points from the previous quarter, and was 37 basis points higher than one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey. The percentage of loans on which foreclosure actions were started during the fourth quarter was 0.25 percent, unchanged from the previous quarter, and three basis points lower than one year ago. Mortgage delinquencies increased across all loan types – FHA, VA and conventional – on a seasonally-adjusted basis.

The 30-day delinquency rate actually dropped by 15 basis points in the fourth quarter of 2017, as homeowners affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria either became current on their payments or moved to later stages of delinquency,” according to Marina Walsh, MBA’s Vice President of Industry Analysis. “However, while the earliest-stage delinquency rate dropped, the 60-day and 90-day delinquency rates did increase in the fourth quarter of 2017. Despite the hurricanes and these quarter-over-quarter results, most states are seeing overall mortgage delinquency rates at lower levels than a year ago.”

“The FHA overall delinquency rate in the fourth quarter of 2017 is higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 in all but three states. FHA borrowers appear to be impacted not only by the storms but other factors that could be stretching their ability to make payments,” Walsh continued. “Regardless of the hurricanes, an increase in delinquencies - particularly FHA delinquencies - off historic lows is not particularly surprising given the seasoning of the loan portfolio, expected higher interest rates, declining average credit scores on new FHA endorsements since 2014 and rising debt-to-income ratios. Mitigating factors include low unemployment and increasing home equity levels that provide homeowners with more options to cure a potential default.”

“Storm-related foreclosure moratoria continue to play a large factor in keeping foreclosure starts at bay, as the fourth quarter saw little movement in either foreclosure starts, or foreclosure inventory. As forbearance periods expire, an increase in the percent of loans in foreclosure is likely. We anticipate it will be several more quarters before the effects of the September hurricanes on the survey results dissipate, especially given extended forbearance periods.”
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the percent of loans delinquent by days past due.

The percent of loans delinquent increased in Q4, primarily due to the hurricanes.

The percent of loans in the foreclosure process continues to decline, and is close to normal levels.

by Calculated Risk on 2/08/2018 08:34:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending February 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 221,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 230,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,500, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 234,500. This is the lowest level for this average since March 10, 1973 when it was 222,000.

Claims taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal.
emphasis added

The previous week was unrevised.

The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.

Click on graph for larger image.


The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims decreased to 224,500. This is the lowest level for the 4-average since 1973.

This was lower than the consensus forecast. The low level of claims suggest relatively few layoffs.