by Calculated Risk on 6/23/2011 03:22:00 PM

No surprise (this is a composite index) ... from the Chicago Fed: Index shows economic growth remained below average in May

The index’s three-month moving average, CFNAI-MA3, declined to –0.19 in May from –0.15 in April, remaining negative for a second consecutive month and reaching its lowest level since November 2010. May’s CFNAI-MA3 suggests that growth in national economic activity was below its historical trend. With regard to inflation, the CFNAI-MA3 suggests subdued inflationary pressure from economic activity over the coming year.

This graph shows the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (three month moving average) since 1967.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

According to the Chicago Fed:

A zero value for the index indicates that the national economy is expanding at its historical trend rate of growth; negative values indicate below-average growth; and positive values indicate above-average growth.

This index suggests the economy was still growing in May, but below trend.

by Calculated Risk on 6/23/2011 12:20:00 PM

The following graph shows existing home sales (left axis) and new home sales (right axis) through May. This graph starts in 1994, but the relationship has been fairly steady back to the '60s.

Then along came the housing bubble and bust, and the "distressing gap" appeared due mostly to distressed sales. The flood of distressed sales has kept existing home sales elevated, and depressed new home sales since builders can't compete with the low prices of all the foreclosed properties.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

I expect this gap to close over the next few years once the number of distressed sales starts to decline.

Note: Existing home sales are counted when transactions are closed, and new home sales are counted when contracts are signed. So the timing of sales is different. Also the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is working on a benchmark revision for existing home sales numbers and I expect significant downward revisions to sales estimates for the last few years - perhaps as much as 10% to 15% for 2009 and 2010. Even with these revisions, most of the "distressing gap" will remain.

Earlier on May Home Sales:
• New Home Sales in May at 319 Thousand SAAR
• May Existing Home Sales: 4.81 million SAAR, 9.3 months of supply
• Graph Galleries: New Home sales and Existing Home sales

by Calculated Risk on 6/23/2011 10:00:00 AM

The Census Bureau reports New Home Sales in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 319 thousand. This was down from a revised 326 thousand in April (revised from 323 thousand).

The first graph shows New Home Sales vs. recessions since 1963. The dashed line is the current sales rate.

Sales of new one-family houses in May 2011 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 319,000 ... This is 2.1 percent (±10.7%)* below the revised April rate of 326,000, but is 13.5 percent (±13.6%)* above the May 2010 estimate of 281,000.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

And a long term graph for New Home Months of Supply.

Months of supply decreased to 6.2 in May from 6.3 months in April. The all time record was 12.1 months of supply in January 2009. This is still higher than normal (less than 6 months supply is normal).

The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of May was 166,000. This represents a supply of 6.2 months at the current sales rate.

On inventory, according to the Census Bureau:

"A house is considered for sale when a permit to build has been issued in permit-issuing places or work has begun on the footings or foundation in nonpermit areas and a sales contract has not been signed nor a deposit accepted."

Starting in 1973 the Census Bureau broke this down into three categories: Not Started, Under Construction, and Completed.

This graph shows the three categories of inventory starting in 1973.

The inventory of completed homes for sale fell to 64,000 units in May. The combined total of completed and under construction is at the lowest level since this series started.

The last graph shows sales NSA (monthly sales, not seasonally adjusted annual rate).

In May 2011 (red column), 30 thousand new homes were sold (NSA). The record low for May was 26 thousand in 2010 (following the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit) and now 2011. The high was 120 thousand in 2005.

Although above the consensus forecast of 305 thousand, this was just above the record low for May - and new home sales have averaged only 300 thousand SAAR since the expiration of the tax credit ... moving sideways at a very low level.

by Calculated Risk on 6/23/2011 08:30:00 AM

The DOL reports on weekly unemployment insurance claims:

In the week ending June 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 429,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 420,000. The 4-week moving average was 426,250, unchanged from the previous week's revised average of 426,250.

The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims for the last 40 years.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims was unchanged this week at 426,250.

This is the 11th straight week with initial claims above 400,000, and the 4-week average is at about the same the level as in January. This suggests the labor market weakness in May continued into June.

by Calculated Risk on 6/23/2011 12:06:00 AM

From the Telegraph: Greek cabinet approves austerity budget

The Greek cabinet has approved a 2012-2015 austerity budget plan as well as laws for its application, a key condition for further EU-IMF help to tame its massive public debt, government sources said.

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

And from the WSJ: Bailout Needs Banks' Help

In both Germany and France, finance-ministry officials met with representatives of their respective countries' leading banks and insurers on Wednesday to discuss how banks would shoulder some of the cost of a second bailout of Greece ... The trick will be for the private sector to take losses on Greek bonds, without Greece being declared in default.

I'm sure it will be voluntary ...

The Greek 2 year yield is down to 27.9%. The ten year yields is down to 16.8%.