by Calculated Risk on 10/17/2013 04:38:00 PM

From the BLS: Updated Schedule of BLS News Releases

See the table below for some of the updated dates.

There will be concerns about the data for some time (this is the October employment report reference week). As an example, from the Cleveland Fed: Implications of the Government Shutdown on Inflation Estimates

Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases estimates of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI). The government shutdown, which ended late on October 16, caused a delay in the release of these statistics and many of the statistics and data products that rely on them. But the shutdown will also affect the accuracy of these statistics for months to come. This article outlines the impact of the shutdown, particularly on the accuracy of the CPI.

The repercussions on CPI estimates will continue for at least seven months. Some of these repercussions will occur later this month, but the majority of the influence will occur the next month, in November, when the monthly overall inflation estimates derived from the CPI will be subject to significant error.
emphasis added

Here are a few of the schedule changes:

Release	Reference Period	Previously Scheduled Release Date	Revised Release Date
Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment	Aug-13	Wednesday, October 02, 2013	Monday, October 21, 2013
Employment Situation	Sep-13	Friday, October 04, 2013	Tuesday, October 22, 2013
U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes	Sep-13	Thursday, October 10, 2013	Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey	Aug-13	Tuesday, October 08, 2013	Thursday, October 24, 2013
Producer Price Index	Sep-13	Friday, October 11, 2013	Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Consumer Price Index	Sep-13	Wednesday, October 16, 2013	Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Real Earnings	Sep-13	Wednesday, October 16, 2013	Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Employment Situation	Oct-13	Friday, November 01, 2013	Friday, November 08, 2013

by Calculated Risk on 10/17/2013 01:24:00 PM

Several years ago I started following the Sacramento market to look for changes in the mix of houses sold (conventional, REOs, and short sales).  For a long time, not much changed. But over the last 2 years we've seen some significant changes with a dramatic shift from foreclosures (REO: lender Real Estate Owned) to short sales, and the percentage of total distressed sales declining sharply.

This data suggests healing in the Sacramento market, although some of this is due to investor buying.  Other distressed markets are showing similar improvement.  Note: The Sacramento Association of REALTORS® started breaking out REOs in May 2008, and short sales in June 2009.

In September 2013, 16.0% of all resales (single family homes) were distressed sales. This was down from 19.0% last month, and down from 50.8% in September 2012. This is the lowest percentage of distressed sales - and therefore the highest percentage of conventional sales - since the association started tracking the data.

The percentage of REOs was at 3.9% (the lowest since the data was tracked), and the percentage of short sales decreased to 12.1%. (the lowest percentage for short sales since Sacramento started tracking short sales in June 2009).

Here are the statistics.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the percent of REO sales, short sales and conventional sales.

There has been a sharp increase in conventional sales recently (blue). 

Active Listing Inventory for single family homes increased 77.3% year-over-year in September.  This is the fifth consecutive month with a year-over-year increase in inventory - clearly inventory has bottomed in Sacramento. 

Cash buyers accounted for 23.6% of all sales, down from 25.4% last month (frequently investors).  This has been trending down, and it appears investors are becoming less of a factor in Sacramento.

Total sales were down 11% from September 2012, but conventional sales were up 51% compared to the same month last year. This is exactly what we expect to see in an improving distressed market - flat or even declining overall sales as distressed sales decline, and conventional sales increasing.

As I've noted before, we are seeing a similar pattern in other distressed areas.  This suggests what will happen in other areas: 1) Flat or declining overall existing home sales, 2) but increasing conventional sales,  3) Less investor buying, 4) more inventory, and 5) slower price increases.

by Calculated Risk on 10/17/2013 10:00:00 AM

From the Philly Fed: October Manufacturing Survey

Manufacturing growth in the region continued in October, according to firms responding to this month’s Business Outlook Survey. The survey’s broadest indicators for general activity, new orders, shipments, and employment were positive, signifying growth. The survey's indicators of future activity suggest continued optimism about growth over the next six months.

The survey’s broadest measure of manufacturing conditions, the diffusion index of current activity, edged down from 22.3 in September to 19.8 this month. The index has now been positive for five consecutive months. ... The demand for manufactured goods, as measured by the current new orders index, increased 6 points, to 27.5, its highest reading since March 2011.

Labor market indicators showed improvement this month. The current employment index increased 5 points, to 15.4, its highest reading since May 2011.
emphasis added

This was above the consensus forecast of a reading of 15.0 for October.

Click on graph for larger image.

Here is a graph comparing the regional Fed surveys and the ISM manufacturing index. The dashed green line is an average of the NY Fed (Empire State) and Philly Fed surveys through October. The ISM and total Fed surveys are through September.

The average of the Empire State and Philly Fed surveys has been positive for five consecutive months.  This was a solid report and suggests further solid expansion in the ISM report for October.

by Calculated Risk on 10/17/2013 08:30:00 AM

The DOL reports:

In the week ending October 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 358,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 373,000. The 4-week moving average was 336,500, an increase of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average of 324,750.

The previous week was revised down from 374,000.

The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since January 2000.

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 336,500.

Some of this recent increase in the four-week average was related to the government shutdown (and some related to processing issues in California).

Note: This information is collected by the states and was not delayed by the shutdown.

by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2013 08:12:00 PM

The Senate approved the deal to open the government and pay-the-bills 81 to 18, and the House will vote later. Here is the CSPAN feed. There was never any doubt (in my mind) that the debt ceiling would be raised. And it is good news that the shutdown will be over (it was very expensive).

Thursday:
• 8:30 AM ET, the initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for claims to decrease to 330 thousand from 374 thousand last week. This data is gathered by the states and will continue to be released.

• DELAYED: the Housing Starts for September. The consensus is for total housing starts to increase to 913 thousand (SAAR) in September.

• DELAYED: the Fed was scheduled to release Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization for September. From the Fed:

The industrial production indexes that are published in the G.17 Statistical Release on Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization incorporate a range of data from other government agencies, the publication of which has been delayed as a result of the federal government shutdown. Consequently, the G.17 release will not be published as scheduled on October 17, 2013. After the reopening of the federal government, the Federal Reserve will announce a publication date for the G.17 release.

The consensus is for a 0.4% increase in Industrial Production, and for Capacity Utilization to increase to 78.1%.

• At 10:00 AM, the Philly Fed manufacturing survey for October. The consensus is for a reading of 15.0, down from 22.3 last month (above zero indicates expansion).

by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2013 03:29:00 PM

From DataQuick: Southland Median Sale Price Dips Month-to-Month, Still Up Sharply From Yr Ago

Southern California home sales in September fell more than usual from August but rose modestly above a year earlier as sales gains for mid- to high-priced properties compensated for declines in sub-$300,000 activity. ... A total of 19,112 new and resale houses and condos sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties last month. That was down 17.1 percent from 23,057 sales in August, and up 7.0 percent from 17,859 sales in September 2012, according to San Diego-based DataQuick.

Last month’s sales were 19.9 percent below the average number of sales – 23,862 – in the month of September. Southland sales haven’t been above average for any particular month in more than seven years. September sales have ranged from a low of 12,455 in September 2007 to high of 37,771 in September 2003.

In September, foreclosure resales – homes foreclosed on in the prior 12 months – accounted for 6.3 percent of the Southland resale market. That was down from a revised 6.9 percent the month before and down from 16.6 percent a year earlier. Last month’s foreclosure resale rate was the lowest since it was 5.5 percent in May 2007. In the current cycle, foreclosure resales hit a high of 56.7 percent in February 2009.

Short sales – transactions where the sale price fell short of what was owed on the property – made up an estimated 13.1 percent of Southland resales last month. That was the lowest level since it was 12.9 percent in May 2009. Last month’s short sale figure was down from an estimated 13.3 percent the month before and down from 28.0 percent a year earlier.

Absentee buyers – mostly investors and some second-home purchasers – bought 26.3 percent of the Southland homes sold last month, which is the lowest share for any month since it was 25.1 percent in November 2011. Last month’s level was down from a revised 26.7 percent the month before and down from 27.7 percent a year earlier. The absentee share has ratcheted down gradually each month this year since hitting a record 32.4 percent in January.
emphasis added

This continues to move in the right direction (fewer distressed sales, fewer absentee buyers).

by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2013 02:03:00 PM

Fed's Beige Book "Prepared at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and based on information collected on or before October 7, 2013. This document summarizes comments received from business and other contacts outside the Federal Reserve and is not a commentary on the views of Federal Reserve officials. "

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest that national economic activity continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace during the reporting period of September through early October. Eight Districts reported similar growth rates in economic activity as during the previous reporting period, while growth slowed some in the Philadelphia, Richmond, Chicago, and Kansas City Districts. Contacts across Districts generally remained cautiously optimistic in their outlook for future economic activity, although many also noted an increase in uncertainty due largely to the federal government shutdown and debt ceiling debate.

And on real estate:

Construction and real estate activity continued to improve in September. Residential construction increased moderately on balance, growing at a stronger pace in the Minneapolis and Dallas Districts but only slightly in Richmond and Philadelphia. Multifamily construction remained stronger than single-family construction in a number of Districts. Residential real estate activity continued to improve at a moderate pace in most Districts, as home sales and prices continued to rise and inventories remained low. Home sales in the New York and Dallas Districts were strong, with the exception of the Jersey Shore, which is still recovering from Hurricane Sandy. The Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Chicago Districts experienced a more modest improvement in home sales. A number of Districts reported concerns from homebuilders and realtors over rising mortgage rates. However, contacts in the Dallas District indicated that rising interest rates were not hurting affordability and contacts in the Boston District suggested some boost to activity by homebuyers entering the market in anticipation of future increases in rates. Nonresidential construction activity remained modest, but varied by market and District. Growth was strong in the Minneapolis District, but up only slightly in Richmond, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. The Cleveland, Chicago, and St. Louis Districts reported increased activity for industrial building, Cleveland noted strong demand from the healthcare sector, and redevelopment of vacant retail space picked up in Boston. Leasing activity continued to improve modestly in most Districts, but was particularly strong in the Dallas District. A number of Districts reported that vacancy rates continued to fall, rents rose, and the outlook for commercial real estate was generally positive.
emphasis added

Overall this was similar to the previous beige book with economic activity increasing at a "modest to moderate" pace.

by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2013 12:00:00 PM

The key problem with short sales is fraud. There are many types of short sales fraud (money under the table, agents not actually marketing property, etc.), but this was apparently blatant.

From the LA Times: BofA employee accused of taking bribes to rig short sales (ht Brian)

A Bank of America Corp. employee assigned to deal with delinquent mortgages has been arrested on federal charges of accepting more than $1 million in bribes to allow homes to be sold far below their market value.
...
A 28-count grand jury indictment, unsealed Tuesday, listed 18 properties allegedly sold in late 2010 and early 2011 at prices below those the bank would have approved. ... Most of the homes were in the San Fernando Valley, but others were in Corona, Coto de Caza, Beverly Hills and Bel Air.

“The buyers would either resell the homes at the actual property values or in some cases would refinance the property at the actual value, thereby extracting profits on the deals,” [Ariel Neuman, an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles] said.

I'm shocked.

by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2013 10:00:00 AM

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported the housing market index (HMI) declined in October to 55 from 57 in September. Any number above 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor.  (September was revised down from 58 to 57).

From the NAHB: Builder Confidence Down in October; NAHB Estimates Sept. Housing Starts will Approach 900,000 Units

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes fell two points in October from a downwardly revised reading in the previous month to a level of 55 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.

“A spike in mortgage interest rates along with the paralysis in Washington that led to the government shutdown and uncertainty regarding the nation’s debt limit have caused builders and consumers to take pause,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “However, interest rates remain near historic lows and we don’t expect the level of rates to have a major impact on sales and starts going forward. Once this government impasse is resolved, we expect builder and consumer optimism will bounce back.”
...
All of the HMI’s three components each fell two points in October. The component gauging current sales conditions registered 58, while the component gauging sales expectations in the next six months posted a reading of 62 and the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers was 44.

Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the South held steady at 56, the West declined a single point to 60 and the Northeast fell three points to 38. The Midwest posted a one-point gain to 64.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph compares the NAHB HMI (left scale) with single family housing starts (right scale). This includes the October release for the HMI and the August data for starts (September housing starts were scheduled to be released tomorrow, but will now be delayed). This was below the consensus estimate of a reading of 57.

by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2013 07:01:00 AM

From the MBA: Purchase Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications increased 0.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 11, 2013. ...

The Refinance Index increased 3 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 5 percent from one week earlier. ...
...
“The government shutdown had a notable impact on the mortgage market last week. Purchase applications for government programs dropped by more than 7 percent over the week to their lowest level since December 2007, and the government share of purchase applications dropped to its lowest level in almost three years,” said Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s Vice President of Research and Economics. “Conventional purchase applications dropped as well, but not to the same extent, falling almost 4 percent for the week.”

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) increased to 4.46 percent from 4.42 percent, with points decreasing to 0.31 from 0.44 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.


The first graph shows the refinance index.

The refinance index is up over the last five weeks as rates have declined from the August levels.

However the index is still down 60% from the levels in early May.


The second graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index.  

The 4-week average of the purchase index has fallen since early May, and the 4-week average of the purchase index is now down 2% from a year ago.