by Calculated Risk on 3/26/2015 08:34:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending March 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 282,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 291,000. The 4-week moving average was 297,000, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 304,750.

There were no special factors impacting this week's initial claims.

The previous week was unrevised.

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 decreased to 297,000.

This was below the consensus forecast of 293,000, and the low level of the 4-week average suggests few layoffs.

by Calculated Risk on 3/25/2015 07:05:00 PM

Some excerpts from a research piece by Goldman Sachs economist Kris Dawsey: Core Inflation Still Has Room to Fall

... With the PPI and CPI reports already in hand for the month, we think that the core PCE price index—the Fed’s preferred inflation measure—will post an above-trend 0.20% increase in February. ... In light of the latest news, one might be tempted to wonder whether we have seen the bottom on core inflation, which could help the Fed to be "reasonably confident" that inflation will be moving back to its target over the medium term—a precondition for the first rate hike.

We ... find that in the near term downward pressure on core inflation from the effects of the stronger dollar and energy price pass-through are likely to overwhelm upward pressure from diminished slack in the economy. ... Recent firmness in shelter inflation—which appears insensitive to dollar and oil effects—is likely to persist, but we think that core goods inflation will probably move down further. Our bottom-up analysis suggests that headline and core consumer prices will probably bottom around the middle of the year ...

Thursday:
• 8:30 AM ET, the initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for claims to increase to 293 thousand from 291 thousand.

• At 11:00 AM, the Kansas City Fed manufacturing survey for March.

by Calculated Risk on 3/25/2015 03:28:00 PM

The automakers will report March vehicle sales on Wednesday, April 1st. Sales in February were at 16.2 million on a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis (SAAR), and it appears sales rebounded in March to close to 17.0 million SAAR.  March sales (SA) will probably be the best since 2005.

Note:  There were 25 selling days in March, one less than last year.  Here are a couple of forecasts:

From WardsAuto: Forecast: March Sales Spring Forward

A WardsAuto forecast calls for U.S. automakers to deliver 1.52 million light vehicles this month. The forecasted daily sales rate (DSR) of 60,935 over 25 days represents a 3.5% improvement from like-2014 (26 days). ... The report puts the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales for the month at 16.9 million units, compared with year-ago’s 16.4 million and February’s 16.2 million mark.

From J.D. Power: J.D. Power and LMC Automotive Report: New-Vehicle Sales Rebound in March to Highest Levels for the Month since 2005

U.S. total new-vehicle sales in March 2015 are bouncing back from last month and are expected to reach their highest levels for the month in a decade, according to a monthly sales forecast from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive.

After winter storms stymied sales in February, total new light-vehicle sales in March 2015 are expected to reach 1,539,600 units, a 4 percent increase on a selling-day adjusted basis compared with March 2014 and their highest levels for the month since March 2005 when 1,572,909 new vehicles were sold.  [17.0 million SAAR[

Looks like a strong month for auto sales.

by Calculated Risk on 3/25/2015 12:31:00 PM

Here are two graphs I haven't posted for some time ...

As part of the new home sales report, the Census Bureau reported the number of homes sold by price and the average and median prices.

From the Census Bureau: "The median sales price of new houses sold in February 2015 was $275,500; the average sales price was $341,000."

The following graph shows the median and average new home prices.

Click on graph for larger image.

During the housing bust, the builders had to build smaller and less expensive homes to compete with all the distressed sales.  When housing started to recovery - with limited finished lots in recovering areas - builders moved to higher price points to maximize profits.

Recently some builders have announced new homes at lower price points.

The average price in February 2015 was $341,000 and the median price was $275,500.  Both are above the bubble high (this is due to both a change in mix and rising prices), but are below the recent peak.

The second graph shows the percent of new homes sold by price.

Less than 5% of homes sold were under $150K in February 2015.  This is down from 30% in 2002 - and down from 20% as recently as August 2011.  The under $150K new home is probably going away.

However there has been a pickup in homes sold in the $200K to $300K range (Up to 37.8% of homes in February 2015).

Yesterday on New Home Sales:
• New Home Sales at 539,000 Annual Rate in February
• Comments on New Home Sales

by Calculated Risk on 3/25/2015 09:33:00 AM

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate declined in February to 1.81%, down from 1.86% in January. Freddie's rate is down from 2.29% in February 2014, and the rate in February was the lowest level since December 2008. Freddie's serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20%.

These are mortgage loans that are "three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure". 

Note: Fannie Mae will report their Single-Family Serious Delinquency rate for February next week.

Click on graph for larger image

Although the rate is declining, the "normal" serious delinquency rate is under 1%. 

The serious delinquency rate has fallen 0.48 percentage points over the last year - and the rate of improvement has slowed recently - but at that rate of improvement, the serious delinquency rate will not be below 1% until late 2016.

Note: Very few seriously delinquent loans cure with the owner making up back payments - most of the reduction in the serious delinquency rate is from foreclosures, short sales, and modifications. 

So even though distressed sales are declining, I expect an above normal level of Fannie and Freddie distressed sales for 2 more years (mostly in judicial foreclosure states).