by Calculated Risk on 5/03/2019 10:08:00 AM

The March ISM Non-manufacturing index was at 55.5%, down from 56.1% in March. The employment index decreased to 53.7%, from 55.2%. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 contraction.

From the Institute for Supply Management: April 2019 Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in April for the 111th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., A.P.P., CFPM, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: “The NMI® registered 55.5 percent, which is 0.6 percentage point lower than the March reading of 56.1 percent. This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector, at a slightly slower rate. The Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index increased to 59.5 percent, 2.1 percentage points higher than the March reading of 57.4 percent, reflecting growth for the 117th consecutive month, at a faster rate in April. The New Orders Index registered 58.1 percent; 0.9 percentage point lower than the reading of 59 percent in March. The Employment Index decreased 2.2 percentage points in April to 53.7 percent from the March reading of 55.9 percent. The Prices Index decreased 3 percentage points from the March reading of 58.7 percent to 55.7 percent, indicating that prices increased in April for the 23rd consecutive month. According to the NMI®, 15 non-manufacturing industries reported growth. The non-manufacturing sector has experienced an uptick in business activity, but in general, there has been a leveling off. Respondents are still mostly optimistic about overall business conditions, but concerns remain about employment resources.”
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

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

This suggests slower expansion in April than in March.

by Calculated Risk on 5/03/2019 08:41:00 AM

From the BLS:

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 263,000 in April, and the unemployment rate declined to 3.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in professional and business services, construction, health care, and social assistance.
...
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was revised up from +33,000 to +56,000, and the change for March was revised down from +196,000 to +189,000. With these revisions, employment gains in February and March combined were 16,000 more than previously reported.
...
In April, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 6 cents to $27.77. Over the year, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

The first graph shows the monthly change in payroll jobs, ex-Census (meaning the impact of the decennial Census temporary hires and layoffs is removed - mostly in 2010 - to show the underlying payroll changes).

Total payrolls increased by 263 thousand in April (private payrolls increased 236 thousand).

Payrolls for February and March were revised up 16 thousand combined.

This graph shows the year-over-year change in total non-farm employment since 1968.

In April, the year-over-year change was 2.620 million jobs.

The third graph shows the employment population ratio and the participation rate.

The Labor Force Participation Rate declined in April to 62.8%. This is the percentage of the working age population in the labor force.   A large portion of the recent decline in the participation rate is due to demographics and long term trends.

The Employment-Population ratio was unchanged at 60.6% (black line).

I'll post the 25 to 54 age group employment-population ratio graph later.

The fourth graph shows the unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate declined in April to 3.6%.

This was above the consensus expectations of 180,000 jobs added, and February and March were revised up by 16,000 combined.  A strong report.

I'll have much more later ...

by Calculated Risk on 5/02/2019 07:47:00 PM

My April Employment Preview

Goldman: April Payrolls Preview

Friday:
• At 8:30 AM: Employment Report for April.   The consensus is for 180,000 jobs added, and for the unemployment rate to be unchanged at 3.8%.

• At 10:00 AM: the ISM non-Manufacturing Index for April.   The consensus is for a reading of 57.2, up from 56.1.

by Calculated Risk on 5/02/2019 05:42:00 PM

From HotelNewsNow.com: STR: U.S. hotel results for week ending 27 April

The U.S. hotel industry reported negative year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 21-27 April 2019, according to data from STR.

In comparison with the week of 22-28 April 2018, the industry recorded the following:

• Occupancy: -1.4% to 68.9%
• Average daily rate (ADR): -1.4% to US$128.66
• Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -2.9% to US$88.59

STR analysts attribute steep performance declines in many major markets to group business decreases on Easter Sunday and the Monday that followed. The corresponding days from 2018 were non-holiday dates.
emphasis added

The following graph shows the seasonal pattern for the hotel occupancy rate using the four week average.

Click on graph for larger image.

The red line is for 2019, dash light blue is 2018, blue is the median, and black is for 2009 (the worst year probably since the Great Depression for hotels).

A decent start for 2019, close - to-date - compared to the previous 4 years.

Seasonally, the occupancy rate will mostly move sideways during the Spring, and then increase during the Summer travel season.

Data Source: STR, Courtesy of HotelNewsNow.com

by Calculated Risk on 5/02/2019 02:50:00 PM

A few brief excerpts from a note by Goldman Sachs economist Spencer Hill:

We estimate nonfarm payrolls increased 195k in April (vs. consensus of 190k), as lower jobless claims and resilient employment surveys suggest that the pace of job growth remains solid.. …

We expect an unchanged unemployment rate in tomorrow’s report (3.8%; consensus also expects 3.8%). … We estimate a 0.2% rise in average hourly earnings (mom sa) that leaves the year-over-year rate unchanged at 3.2%
emphasis added

by Calculated Risk on 5/02/2019 11:17:00 AM

On Friday at 8:30 AM ET, the BLS will release the employment report for April. The consensus is for an increase of 180,000 non-farm payroll jobs in April, and for the unemployment rate to be unchanged at 3.8%.

Last month, the BLS reported 196,000 jobs added in March.

Here is a summary of recent data:

• The ADP employment report showed an increase of 275,000 private sector payroll jobs in April. This was below the consensus expectations of 180,000 private sector payroll jobs added. The ADP report hasn't been very useful in predicting the BLS report for any one month, but in general, this suggests employment growth above expectations.

• The ISM manufacturing employment index decreased in April to 52.4%. A historical correlation between the ISM manufacturing employment index and the BLS employment report for manufacturing, suggests that private sector BLS manufacturing payroll decreased about 5,000 in April. The ADP report indicated manufacturing jobs increased 5,000 in April.

The ISM non-manufacturing employment index for April will be released tomorrow.

• Initial weekly unemployment claims averaged 213,000 in April, about the same as in March. For the BLS reference week (includes the 12th of the month), initial claims were at 193,000, down from 216,000 during the reference week the previous month.

The significant decrease during the reference week suggests a stronger employment report in April than in March.

• The final April University of Michigan consumer sentiment index decreased to 97.2 from the March reading of 98.4. Sentiment is frequently coincident with changes in the labor market, but there are other factors too like gasoline prices and politics.

• Conclusion:  In general these reports suggest a solid employment report.   My guess is the headline employment increase will be above expectations (primarily based on strong ADP report and low level of unemployment claims during reference).

by Calculated Risk on 5/02/2019 09:49:00 AM

The BEA released their estimate of April vehicle sales this morning. The BEA estimated sales of 16.43 million SAAR in April 2019 (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate), down 5.8% from the March sales rate, and down 4.5% from April 2018.

With the weak sales in April, sales in 2019 are averaging 16.7 million (average of seasonally adjusted rate), down 2.3% compared to the same period in 2018.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows light vehicle sales since 2006 from the BEA (blue) and an estimate for April (red).

This was below the consensus forecast for April.

A small decline in sales this year isn't a concern - I think sales will move mostly sideways at near record levels.

This means the economic boost from increasing auto sales is over (from the bottom in 2009, auto sales boosted growth every year through 2016).

The second graph shows light vehicle sales since the BEA started keeping data in 1967.

Note: dashed line is current estimated sales rate of 16.43 million SAAR.

by Calculated Risk on 5/02/2019 08:32:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending April 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 230,000, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised level of 230,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 206,000
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 increased to 212,500.

This was well above the consensus forecast.

by Calculated Risk on 5/01/2019 06:39:00 PM

The Case-Shiller house price indexes for February were released yesterday. Zillow forecasts Case-Shiller a month early, and I like to check the Zillow forecasts since they have been pretty close.

From Matthew Speakman at Zillow: February Case-Shiller Results and March Forecast: Home Price Growth Slowest Since 2012

Home prices continued to tap on the brakes in February, moderating their earlier breakneck speeds, particularly in pricey West Coast markets. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which tracks home prices nationally and in major metro areas, rose 4% in February from the previous year, a slowdown from 4.2% in January.
...
Below is Zillow’s Case-Shiller forecast for March. It’s scheduled for release on May 28.

The Zillow forecast is for the year-over-year change for the Case-Shiller National index to be at 4.0% in March, the same as in February.

The Zillow forecast is for the 20-City index to decline to 2.6% YoY in March, and for the 10-City index to decline to 2.3% YoY.

by Calculated Risk on 5/01/2019 02:02:00 PM

FOMC Statement:

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in March indicates that the labor market remains strong and that economic activity rose at a solid rate. Job gains have been solid, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Growth of household spending and business fixed investment slowed in the first quarter. On a 12-month basis, overall inflation and inflation for items other than food and energy have declined and are running below 2 percent. On balance, market-based measures of inflation compensation have remained low in recent months, and survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed.

Consistent with its statutory mandate, the Committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability. In support of these goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 percent. The Committee continues to view sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near the Committee's symmetric 2 percent objective as the most likely outcomes. In light of global economic and financial developments and muted inflation pressures, the Committee will be patient as it determines what future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate may be appropriate to support these outcomes.

In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective. This assessment will take into account a wide range of information, including measures of labor market conditions, indicators of inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and readings on financial and international developments.

Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Jerome H. Powell, Chair; John C. Williams, Vice Chair; Michelle W. Bowman; Lael Brainard; James Bullard; Richard H. Clarida; Charles L. Evans; Esther L. George; Randal K. Quarles; and Eric S. Rosengren.
emphasis added