by Calculated Risk on 7/24/2011 09:45:00 PM

They seem crazy, but are they insane? I don't think so. And investors don't think so either ... at least not yet.

The Asian markets are barely red tonight, with the Nikkei off 0.6%.

From CNBC: Pre-Market Data and Bloomberg futures: the S&P 500 is off about 11 points, and Dow futures are off about 105 points.

A couple of articles, but nothing new ...

From the WaPo: Debt-limit talks at a standstill as parallel strategies take shape in House, Senate

From the WSJ: Gridlock for Debt Talks

Yesterday:
• Summary for Week Ending July 22nd
• Schedule for Week of July 24th

by Calculated Risk on 7/24/2011 06:34:00 PM

Tracking the participation rate for various age groups monthly is a little like watching paint dry, but the trends are important. Here is a look at some the long term trends (updated graphs through June 2011).

The following graph shows the changes in the participation rates for men and women since 1960 (in the 25 to 54 age group - the prime working years).

The participation rate for women increased significantly from the mid 30s to the mid 70s and has mostly flattened out - although the rate has been declining recently (down to 74.6% in June). The participation rate for men has decreased from the high 90s to 89.0% in June 2011. (down slightly from May)

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

There will probably be some "bounce back" for both men and women (some of the recent decline is probably cyclical), but the long term trend for men is down.

The next graph shows that participation rates for several key age groups.

There are a few key long term trends:
• The participation rate for the '16 to 19' age group has been falling for some time (red). This at 34% in June.

• The participation rate for the 'over 55' age group has been rising since the mid '90s (purple), although this has stalled out a little recently (perhaps cyclical).

• The participation rate for the '20 to 24' age group fell recently too (perhaps more people are focusing on eduction before joining the labor force). This appears to have stabilized - although it was down to 70.5% in June, and I expect the participation rate to increase for this cohort as the job market improves.

The third graph shows the participation rate for several over 55 age groups. The red line is the '55 and over' total seasonally adjusted. All of the other age groups are Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA).

The participation rate is generally trending up for all older age groups.

The increase in participation of older cohorts might push up the overall participation rate over the next few years, however eventually the 'over 55' participation rate will start to decline as the oldest baby boomers move into even older age groups.

I've been expecting some small bounce back in the participation rate, but I don't think the bounce back will be huge - and we haven't seen it yet. This will be a key number to watch over the next few years.

Yesterday:
• Summary for Week Ending July 22nd
• Schedule for Week of July 24th

by Calculated Risk on 7/24/2011 01:40:00 PM

Probably the key economic release this coming week is the advance estimate of Q2 GDP on Friday. The consensus is that real GDP increased 1.8% annualized in Q2. Note: Bloomberg is showing the consensus as 1.9%. Goldman Sachs is forecasting "real GDP growth decelerated further in Q2, to an annualized growth rate of just 1.5%".

In addition to the advance release of GDP, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release revisions for the previous three years:

On July 29, 2011, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release the results of the annual revision of the national income and product accounts (NIPAs) together with the advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2011. In addition to the regular revision of estimates for the most recent 3 years and for the first quarter of 2011, this “flexible” annual revision will result in revisions to GDP and some components back to the first quarter of 2003.

My guess is the revisions will show the recovery has been weaker than the original estimates indicated.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

This graph shows the quarterly GDP growth (at an annual rate) for the last 30 years.

The consensus is that real GDP increased 1.8% annualized in Q2. The estimate for Q2 is in blue.

Back-to-back weak quarters and a sluggish and choppy recovery ...

Yesterday:
• Summary for Week Ending July 22nd
• Schedule for Week of July 24th

by Calculated Risk on 7/24/2011 09:34:00 AM

Ezra Klein outlined three possible options: 11 days until disaster, three options to prevent it

At this point, there are three serious options on the table. A $4 trillion deal that includes some revenues, a $1 trillion-$2 trillion deal that’s all spending cuts but leaves much of the job until after the election, and a deal in which Republicans don’t come to a negotiated agreement with President Obama but they grant him the authority -- and let him take the blame -- for raising the debt ceiling. Those are our three options, and Congress needs to pick one.

From a pure economic perspective, here are the best options (#1 is best):

Option #1: Eliminate the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is a joke. It serves no purpose except political posturing. It is not about the deficit - it is about paying the bills, and the U.S. will pay the bills. I've been making this argument for months. Moody's made the same argument last week: Moody's suggests U.S. eliminate debt ceiling

The United States is one of the few countries where Congress sets a ceiling on government debt, which creates "periodic uncertainty" over the government's ability to meet its obligations, Moody's said in a report.

"We would reduce our assessment of event risk if the government changed its framework for managing government debt to lessen or eliminate that uncertainty," Moody's analyst Steven Hess wrote in the report.

Unfortunately some politicians forgot the debt ceiling is just for posing, and they have overplayed a non-existent hand. From the NY Times:

“Our problem is, we made a big deal about this for three months,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina.

“How many Republicans have been on TV saying, ‘I am not going to raise the debt limit,’ ” said Mr. Graham, including himself in the mix of those who did so. “We have no one to blame but ourselves.”

Option #2: Pass a "clean" bill raising the debt ceiling enough to get through the next election (so the politicians don't have to embarrass themselves again). Congress could do this at any time. That is why voters would blame the party controlling the House if the debt ceiling is not raised. As Republican Senator Mitch McConnell recently noted, if the debt ceiling isn't raised the "Republican brand" would become toxic and synonymous with fiscal irresponsibility.

Option #3: The McConnell Option. This is the agreement Klein noted to give President Obama the authority to increase the debt ceiling, and try to blame Obama for the increases.

Those are the smart options. Reaching some vague non-binding agreement on some future spending cuts might soothe some pain, but it would just lead to more articles about how the cuts aren't real.

I'd praise the GOP if they selected Option #1 or even Option #2. This charade has been the worst of American politics. I'll be happy when it is over.

Yesterday (on the economy):
• Summary for Week Ending July 22nd
• Schedule for Week of July 24th

by Calculated Risk on 7/23/2011 10:06:00 PM

Earlier:
• Summary for Week Ending July 22nd
• Schedule for Week of July 24th

This data is for May and gasoline prices were at the highest level of the year at end of April and into early May - so the YoY decline might be less in June.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) reported Friday:

Travel on all roads and streets changed by -1.9% (-5.0 billion vehicle miles) for May 2011 as compared with May 2010. Travel for the month is estimated to be 254.0 billion vehicle miles.

Cumulative Travel for 2011 changed by -1.0% (-11.7 billion vehicle miles).

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

This graph shows the rolling 12 month total vehicle miles driven.

In the early '80s, miles driven (rolling 12 months) stayed below the previous peak for 39 months. Currently miles driven has been below the previous peak for 42 months - so this is a new record for longest period below the previous peak - and still counting!

Note: some people have asked about miles driven on a per capita basis (or per registered driver), and I'm looking at the data.

The second graph shows the year-over-year change from the same month in the previous year. So far the current decline is not as a severe as in 2008.

With the decline in oil and gasoline prices, the YoY decline in miles driven will probably not be as large in June.