by Calculated Risk on 4/06/2013 02:12:00 PM

"Disappointing" and "below expectations" were the most used phrases to describe the economic releases last week. Even though growth in Q1 was better than in Q4 2012, it appears the first quarter ended sluggishly.

The employment report was well below expectations with only 88,000 payroll jobs added, the ISM manufacturing and service indexes indicated slower growth in March, initial weekly unemployment claims increased sharply, and even auto sales were a little disappointing.

On the positive side, construction spending increased, and it appears the layoffs at the state and local government level are ending (two of the key reasons I'm more optimistic this year).

But overall it was a disappointing week. I expect some slowdown over the next couple of quarters related to policy (sequestration), but I think the key drivers for growth are still positive.

Here is a summary of last week in graphs:

• March Employment Report: 88,000 Jobs, 7.6% Unemployment Rate

Click on graph for larger image.

NOTE: This graph is ex-Census meaning the impact of the decennial Census temporary hires and layoffs is removed to show the underlying payroll changes.

From the BLS: "Nonfarm payroll employment edged up in March (+88,000), and the unemployment rate was little changed at 7.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. ... The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for January was revised from +119,000 to +148,000, and the change for February was revised from +236,000 to +268,000."

The headline number was well below expectations of 193,000 payroll jobs added.  However employment for January and February were revised higher.

The second graph shows the unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate decreased to 7.6% from 7.7% in February.

The unemployment rate is from the household report and the household report showed a sharp decline in the labor force - and that meant a lower unemployment rate.

The labor force (household survey) declined from 155.524 million to 155.028 million - a decline of 496 thousand.

This graph shows the job losses from the start of the employment recession, in percentage terms, compared to previous post WWII recessions. The dotted line is ex-Census hiring.

This shows the depth of the recent employment recession - worse than any other post-war recession - and the relatively slow recovery due to the lingering effects of the housing bust and financial crisis.

This was a disappointing employment report and worse than expectations.

• ISM Manufacturing index declines in March to 51.3

The ISM manufacturing index indicated expansion in March. The PMI was at 51.3% in March, down from 54.2% in February. The employment index was at 54.2%, up from 52.6%, and the new orders index was at 51.4%, down from 57.8% in February.

Here is a long term graph of the ISM manufacturing index.

This was below expectations of 54.0% and suggests manufacturing expanded at a slower pace in March.

• ISM Non-Manufacturing Index indicates slower expansion in March

The March ISM Non-manufacturing index was at 54.4%, down from 56.0% in February. The employment index decreased in March to 53.3%, down from 57.2% in February. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 contraction.

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

This was below the consensus forecast of 56.0% and indicates slower expansion in March than in February.

• U.S. Light Vehicle Sales decreased to 15.3 million annual rate in March

Based on an estimate from AutoData Corp, light vehicle sales were at a 15.27 million SAAR in March. That is up 8% from March 2012, and down slightly from the sales rate last month.

This was below the consensus forecast of 15.4 million SAAR (seasonally adjusted annual rate).
Note: dashed line is current estimated sales rate.

This is a solid start to the new year.    After three consecutive years of double digit auto sales growth, the growth rate will probably slow in 2013 - but this will still be another positive year for the auto industry.

Even if sales average the Q1 rate all year, Total sales would be up about 6% from 2012.

• Construction Spending increased in February

From Census Bureau: "The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during February 2013 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $885.1 billion, 1.2 percent above the revised January estimate of $874.8 billion. The February figure is 7.9 percent above the February 2012 estimate of $820.7 billion."

This graph shows private residential and nonresidential construction spending, and public spending, since 1993. Note: nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted.

Private residential spending is 55% below the peak in early 2006, and up 36% from the post-bubble low. Non-residential spending is 25% below the peak in January 2008, and up about 37% from the recent low.

Public construction spending is now 16% below the peak in March 2009 and just above the lowest level since 2006 (not inflation adjusted).

The second graph shows the year-over-year change in construction spending.

On a year-over-year basis, private residential construction spending is now up 20%. Non-residential spending is up 6% year-over-year mostly due to energy spending (power and electric). Public spending is down 1.5% year-over-year.

• Trade Deficit declined in February to $43 Billion

The Department of Commerce reported: "[T]otal February exports of $186.0 billion and imports of $228.9 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $43.0 billion, down from $44.5 billion in January, revised. February exports were $1.6 billion more than January exports of $184.4 billion. February imports were $0.1 billion more than January imports of $228.9 billion."

The trade deficit was below the consensus forecast of $44.8 billion.

Exports are 12% above the pre-recession peak and up 3.2% compared to February 2012; imports are slightly below the pre-recession peak, and up 2% compared to February 2012.

This graph shows the U.S. trade deficit, with and without petroleum, through February.

The blue line is the total deficit, and the black line is the petroleum deficit, and the red line is the trade deficit ex-petroleum products.

The decrease in the trade deficit in February was mostly due to a decrease in the volume of petroleum imports.

Oil averaged $95.96 per barrel in February, up from $94.08 in January, but down from $103.63 in February 2012.

• Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims increase to 385,000

From the DOL: "In the week ending March 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 385,000, an increase of 28,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 357,000."

The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims increased to 354,250 - the highest level since February.

Weekly claims were above the 350,000 consensus forecast.  Note: This appears to be the beginning of the impact of the "sequestration" budget cuts.

by Calculated Risk on 4/06/2013 10:23:00 AM

Note: I'll post a summary of last week soon.

The key report this week is the March retail sales report on Friday.

The FOMC minutes for the March meeting will be released on Wednesday.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak on Monday and Friday (several regional Fed presidents will also speak this week).

----- Monday, Apr 8th -----
7:15 PM ET, Speech by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Stress-Testing Banks: What Have We Learned? , At the 2013 Financial Markets Conference, Atlanta, Georgia

----- Tuesday, Apr 9th -----
7:30 AM ET: NFIB Small Business Optimism Index for March. The consensus is for a decrease to 90.6 from 90.8 in February.

10:00 AM: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for February from the BLS.

This graph shows job openings (yellow line), hires (purple), Layoff, Discharges and other (red column), and Quits (light blue column) from the JOLTS.

Jobs openings increased in January to 3.693 million, up from 3.612 million in December. number of job openings (yellow) has generally been trending up, and openings are up 8% year-over-year compared to January 2012.

10:00 AM: Monthly Wholesale Trade: Sales and Inventories for February. The consensus is for a 0.5% increase in inventories.

----- Wednesday, Apr 10th -----
7:00 AM: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the mortgage purchase applications index.

2:00 PM: FOMC Minutes for Meeting of March 19-20, 2013

----- Thursday, Apr 11th -----
8:30 AM: The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for claims to decrease to 365 thousand from 385 thousand last week.  The "sequester" budget cuts appear to be impacting weekly claims.

----- Friday, Apr 12th -----
8:30 AM: Producer Price Index for March. The consensus is for a 0.2% decrease in producer prices (0.2% increase in core).

8:30 AM ET: Retail sales for March will be released.

This graph shows monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline) through February. Retail sales are up 27.2% from the bottom, and now 11.2% above the pre-recession peak (not inflation adjusted)

The consensus is for retail sales to be unchanged in March (following the large increases in January and February), and to increase 0.1% ex-autos.

9:55 AM: Reuter's/University of Michigan's Consumer sentiment index (preliminary for April). The consensus is for a reading of 79.0, up from 78.6.

10:00 AM: Manufacturing and Trade: Inventories and Sales (business inventories) report for February.  The consensus is for a 0.4% increase in inventories.

12:30 PM: Speech by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Creating Resilient Communities, At the 2013 Federal Reserve System Community Development Research Conference, Washington, D.C.

by Calculated Risk on 4/05/2013 08:35:00 PM

From the FDIC: First Scottsdale Bank, National Association, Scottsdale, Arizona, Assumes All of the Deposits of Gold Canyon Bank, Gold Canyon, Arizona

As of December 31, 2012, Gold Canyon Bank had approximately $45.2 million in total assets and $44.2 million in total deposits. ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $11.2 million. ... Gold Canyon Bank is the fifth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Arizona.

Hmmm ... someone make a joke about Gold ...

Earlier on the employment report:
• March Employment Report: 88,000 Jobs, 7.6% Unemployment Rate
• Employment Report Comments and more Graphs
• All Employment Graphs

by Calculated Risk on 4/05/2013 04:30:00 PM

From the Association of American Railroads (AAR): AAR Reports Mixed Rail Traffic for March, Declines for Week Ending March 30

Intermodal traffic in March 2013 totaled 933,208 containers and trailers, up 0.5 percent (4,859 units) compared with March 2012. That percentage increase represents the smallest year-over-year monthly gain for intermodal since August 2011.

Carloads originated in March 2013 totaled 1,117,427, down 0.5 percent (5,969 carloads) compared with the same month last year. While it was a decline, March had the lowest year-over-year monthly dip in carloads since January of 2012. Carloads excluding coal and grain were up 3.4 percent (19,965 carloads) in March 2013 over March 2012.

“U.S. rail traffic continues to mirror the overall economy: not great, not terrible, anticipating a better future,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “Petroleum and petroleum products continues to lead traffic gains, while coal and grain have seen better days. Intermodal volume in March was up just 0.5 percent over last year, but it was still the highest-volume March in history and built on even stronger gains earlier in the quarter.”
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph from the Rail Time Indicators report shows U.S. average weekly rail carloads (NSA).  Green is 2013.

Commodities with the biggest carload increases in March included petroleum and petroleum products, up 54.3 percent or 19,295 carloads; crushed stone, gravel and sand, up 11.9 percent or 8,380 carloads; motor vehicles and parts, up 6.1 percent or 4,127 carloads; and coke, up 11.4 percent or 1,550 carloads. Commodities with carload declines last month included grain, down 20.1 percent or 16,971 carloads; coal, down 2 percent or 8,963 carloads; metallic ores, down 13.2 percent or 2,908 carloads; and chemicals, down 1.3 percent or 1,581 carloads.

Note that building related commodities were up.

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

Graphs and excerpts reprinted with permission.

Intermodal traffic was weaker in March, but still on track for a record year in 2013:

After a stellar February, U.S. intermodal traffic came back to earth in March. U.S. railroads originated 933,208 containers and trailers in March 2013, up just 0.5% (4,859 units) over March 2012. (The comparable numbers were 10.5% and 93,231 units in February.) That’s the smallest year-over-year monthly increase since August 2011. On the other hand, March 2013’s weekly average of 233,302 containers and trailers is the highest average for any March in history.

Earlier on the employment report:
• March Employment Report: 88,000 Jobs, 7.6% Unemployment Rate
• Employment Report Comments and more Graphs
• All Employment Graphs

by Calculated Risk on 4/05/2013 01:57:00 PM

The 88 thousand payroll jobs added in March is from the establishment survey (a survey of businesses for payroll jobs), but the unemployment rate is from the household survey.   To help understand the decline in the unemployment rate, here is some data from the household survey.

The "Population" is the Civilian Noninstitutional Population, or the number of people 16 and over who are "not inmates of institutions (for example, penal and mental facilities and homes for the aged) and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces".  This is increasing every month, and increased 167 thousand in March.

The Civilian Labor Force is based on the percentage of people who say they are either employed or unemployed.  This yields the participation rate (the percentage of the civilian noninstitutional population that is in the labor force).  The participation rate has declined recently due to both demographic reasons and the weak recovery from the financial crisis.  Separating out the two reasons is difficult, see: Understanding the Decline in the Participation Rate and Further Discussion on Labor Force Participation Rate and Labor Force Participation Rate Update.

If the participation rate increases, then it would take more jobs to reduce the unemployment rate.  If the participation rate continues to decline (or just flat lines for a couple of years), then it takes fewer jobs to reduce the unemployment rate.

According to the household survey, the economy lost 206 thousand jobs (the establishment survey is MUCH better for payroll jobs added), and there were 290 thousand fewer people unemployed - so the unemployment rate declined to the lowest level since December 2008.  We'd prefer to see the unemployment rate decline because of more jobs, as opposed to less participation.

Employment Status, Household Data (000s)
	Feb	Mar	Change
Population	244,828	244,995	167
Civilian Labor Force	155,524	155,028	-496
Participation Rate	63.52%	63.28%	-0.24%
Employed	143,492	143,286	-206
Unemployed	12,032	11,742	-290
Unemployment Rate	7.74%	7.57%	-0.17%

Employment-Population Ratio, 25 to 54 years old

Click on graph for larger image.

Since the participation rate declined recently due to cyclical (recession) and demographic (aging population) reasons, an important graph is the employment-population ratio for the key working age group: 25 to 54 years old.

In the earlier period the employment-population ratio for this group was trending up as women joined the labor force. The ratio has been mostly moving sideways since the early '90s, with ups and downs related to the business cycle.

This ratio should probably move close to 80% as the economy recovers. The ratio was unchanged at 75.9% in March.  The participation rate for this group declined slightly to 81.1%.  The decline in the participation rate for this age group is probably mostly due to economic weakness, whereas most of the decline in the overall participation rate is probably due to demographics.

Percent Job Losses During Recessions


This graph shows the job losses from the start of the employment recession, in percentage terms - this time aligned at maximum job losses.

In the earlier post, the graph showed the job losses aligned at the start of the employment recession.

This financial crisis recession was much deeper than other post WWII recessions, and the recovery has been slower (the recovery from the 2001 recession was slow too). However, if we compare to other financial crisis recoveries, this recovery has actually been better than most.

Part Time for Economic Reasons

From the BLS report:

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) fell by 350,000 over the month to 7.6 million. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.

The number of part time workers decline in March to 7.64 million from 7.99 million in February. This is the few part time for economic reasons since November 2008.

These workers are included in the alternate measure of labor underutilization (U-6) that declined to 13.8% in March. This is the lowest level for U-6 since December 2008.

Unemployed over 26 Weeks

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

According to the BLS, there are 4.61 million workers who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks and still want a job. This was down from 4.8 million in February. This is trending down, but is still very high.  This is the fewest long term unemployed since June 2009.  Long term unemployment remains one of the key labor problems in the US.

State and Local Government

This graph shows total state and government payroll employment since January 2007. State and local governments lost jobs for four straight years. (Note: Scale doesn't start at zero to better show the change.)

In March 2013, state and local governments added 7,000 jobs and state and local employment has increased 8,000 so far in 2013.

I think most of the state and local government layoffs are over.  Of course the Federal government layoffs are ongoing with many more layoffs expected due to the sequestration spending cuts.

Overall this was a weak report, but there were a few positives including the upward revisions to the January and February reports, the decline in the long term unemployed, and the decline in part time workers to list a few.
All Employment Graphs