by Calculated Risk on 1/06/2011 11:55:00 AM

A weekly update on hotels from HotelNewsNow.com: STR: Luxury segment tops ADR weekly increases

Overall the U.S. hotel industry’s occupancy increased 4.2% to 47.4%, ADR was up 2.3% to US$102.76, and revenue per available room finished the week up 6.6% to US$48.75.

The following graph shows the four week moving average for the occupancy rate as a percent of the median occupancy rate from 2000 through 2007.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

Note: I've changed this graph. Since this is the percent of the median from 2000 to 2007, the percent can be greater than 100%.

The down spike in 2001 was due to 9/11. The up spike in late 2005 was hurricane related (Katrina and Rita).

This shows how deep the slump was in 2009 compared to the period following the 2001 recession. This also shows hotels are recovering, but the occupancy rates are still below normal.

Data Source: Smith Travel Research, Courtesy of HotelNewsNow.com

by Calculated Risk on 1/06/2011 08:30:00 AM

The DOL reports on weekly unemployment insurance claims:

In the week ending Jan. 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 409,000, an increase of 18,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 391,000. The 4-week moving average was 410,750, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's revised average of 414,250.

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

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

The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims decreased this week by 3,500 to 410,750.

In general the four-week moving average has been declining and that is good news.

by Calculated Risk on 1/05/2011 11:59:00 PM

From the WSJ: For Apartments, a Hot Winter

According to Reis data, the national apartment-vacancy rate was 6.6% in the fourth quarter, down from 7.1% in the third quarter and 8% in the fourth quarter a year ago.
...
Effective rent, the amount paid after discounts, rose 0.5% ...

Also from Diana Olick at CNBC: One Bright Spark in US Housing — Apartments

This is a significant decline from the record vacancy rate set a year ago at 8%. This decline fits with the recent survey from the NMHC that showed lower apartment vacancies.

The vacancy rate for large apartment buildings bottomed a year ago, and this indicates the excess housing inventory (that includes both vacant homes and apartments) is being absorbed.

Note: the Reis numbers are for cities. The overall vacancy rate from the Census Bureau was at 10.3% in Q3 2010.

by Calculated Risk on 1/05/2011 10:27:00 PM

Gene Sperling is expected to be named chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers on Friday - succeeding Larry Summers.

From the NY Times: Obama Turning to Experienced Hands as He Remakes Staff

Gene Sperling, a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, was expected to be named on Friday as the director of the National Economic Council, the top economic policy job inside the White House. Mr. Sperling also held the position in the Clinton administration.

And some background from David Leonhardt at Economix: Gene Sperling 101

by Calculated Risk on 1/05/2011 05:46:00 PM

Back in early 2009, one of the key reasons I thought there wouldn't be a "depression" (defined as a 10% decline in real GDP) was because the drag from several key sectors was slowing (see Feb, 2009: Looking for the Sun)

The logic was similar last year when I argued for sluggish growth but no double dip recession - I just didn't see a huge decline in residential investment. I noted that "usually a recession (or double-dip) is preceded by a sharp decline in Residential Investment (housing is the best leading indicator for the business cycle), and it [is] hard for RI to fall much further".

Now we can even go further. As I argued in Question #2 for 2011: Residential Investment, residential investment, and residential construction employment, will probably make positive contributions in 2011 to real GDP growth and payroll employment.

From the ADP employment report this morning:

Construction employment was unchanged in December, ending continuous monthly declines since June 2007. The decline in Construction employment, since its peak in January 2007, is 2,306,000.

The tide is changing.

And there has even been some positive news for commercial real estate: Reis reported the vacancy rates for offices and malls didn't increase in Q4. Even if this is the peak, I still expect non-residential investment in structures to be a drag through the middle of this year - but that drag will slow too.

The real key will be employment growth. More jobs means more households, and if we see my forecast for job growth in 2011, we will probably see around 1 million more households in 2011. With the net increase to the housing stock at or near record lows in 2011, this would significantly help reduce the excess supply of vacant housing units.

There are still downside risks - notably from housing, state and local governments and possibly from Europe - and there are still drags from the financial crisis with excessive household debt and excess capacity in many sectors. But overall it appears the outlook for 2011 is brighter.

Here is the series I wrote over the last couple of weeks, Ten Questions:
• Question #1 for 2011: House Prices
• Question #2 for 2011: Residential Investment
• Question #3 for 2011: Delinquencies and Distressed house sales
• Question #4 for 2011: U.S. Economic Growth
• Question #5 for 2011: Employment
• Question #6 for 2011: Unemployment Rate
• Question #7 for 2011: State and Local Governments
• Question #8 for 2011: Europe and the Euro
• Question #9 for 2011: Inflation
• Question #10 for 2011: Monetary Policy

by Calculated Risk on 1/05/2011 03:07:00 PM

Just an update ...

• From the NY Times: Portugal's Borrowing Costs Rise as E.U. Sells Bonds for Irish Rescue

The European Union began issuing bonds on Wednesday to finance its rescue fund for Ireland, even as Portugal was required to pay more to sell short-term debt.

... the Portuguese Treasury and Government Debt Agency sold €500 million of six-month bills ... The bills carried an average yield of 3.69 percent, far above the 2.05 percent Portugal paid for a similar issue in September.

• In addition to Portugal, yields are rising again in Ireland and Greece. The Ireland 10-year bond yield is over 9%, and the Greece 10-year bond yield is at a record 12.62%. Both Greece and Ireland are using the "bailout" funds, and the high yields suggest investors expect an eventual default.

• Update: From Bloomberg: Spanish Bank Stocks Drop on Funding Cost, Led by BBVA

It seems another blowup is inevitable.