by Calculated Risk on 10/05/2015 08:16:00 PM

Tuesday:
• At 8:30 AM ET, Trade Balance report for August from the Census Bureau. The consensus is for the U.S. trade deficit to be at $48.6 billion in August from $41.9 billion in July.

From Binyamin Appelbaum at the NY Times: Ben Bernanke, in Book, Blames Congress for Lagging Fiscal Recovery

Congress is largely responsible for the incomplete recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, Ben S. Bernanke, the former Federal Reserve chairman, says in a memoir published on Monday.

Mr. Bernanke, who left the Fed in January 2014 after eight years as chairman, writes that the Fed’s response to the crisis was bold and effective but insufficient.

“I often said that monetary policy was not a panacea — we needed Congress to do its part,” he says. “After the crisis calmed, that help was not forthcoming.”

I agree.

by Calculated Risk on 10/05/2015 04:44:00 PM

An update: Last year, I posted some demographic data for the U.S., see: Census Bureau: Largest 5-year Population Cohort is now the "20 to 24" Age Group, Decline in the Labor Force Participation Rate: Mostly Demographics and Long Term Trends, and The Future's so Bright ...

I pointed out that "even without the financial crisis we would have expected some slowdown in growth this decade (just based on demographics). The good news is that will change soon."

Changes in demographics are an important determinant of economic growth, and although most people focus on the aging of the "baby boomer" generation, the movement of younger cohorts into the prime working age is another key story in coming years. Here is a graph of the prime working age population (this is population, not the labor force) from 1948 through August 2015.

Click on graph for larger image.

The prime working age population peaked in 2007, and bottomed at the end of 2012.  The prime working age population is almost back to the previous peak (this is population and has nothing to do cyclical weakness - this is just demographics).

The good news is the prime working age group is now growing at 0.5% per year - and this should boost economic activity a little going forward.

Note: There was a huge surge in the prime working age population in the '70s, '80s and '90s - and the prime age population has been mostly flat recently (even declined a little). The prime working age labor force grew even quicker than the population in the '70s and '80s due to the increase in participation of women. In fact, the prime working age labor force was increasing 3%+ per year in the '80s! So when we compare economic growth to the '70s, '80, or 90's we have to remember this difference in demographics (the '60s saw solid economic growth as near-prime age groups increased sharply).

See: Demographics and GDP: 2% is the new 4%

by Calculated Risk on 10/05/2015 02:36:00 PM

Black Knight Financial Services (BKFS) released their Mortgage Monitor report for August today. According to BKFS, 4.83% of mortgages were delinquent in August, down from 4.71% in July. BKFS reported that 1.37% of mortgages were in the foreclosure process, down from 1.80% in August 2014.

This gives a total of 6.20% delinquent or in foreclosure. It breaks down as:

• 1,582,000 properties that are 30 or more days, and less than 90 days past due, but not in foreclosure.
• 865,000 properties that are 90 or more days delinquent, but not in foreclosure.
• 696,000 loans in foreclosure process.

For a total of ​​3,142,000 loans delinquent or in foreclosure in August. This is down from 3,908,000 in August 2014.

Press Release: Black Knight’s August Mortgage Monitor: Cash-Out Refinances Up 68 Percent Year-Over-Year

Today, the Data and Analytics division of Black Knight Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: BKFS) released its latest Mortgage Monitor Report, based on data as of the end of August 2015. ... As Black Knight Data & Analytics Senior Vice President Ben Graboske explained, borrowers have been capitalizing on increased equity available in their homes and still historically low rates.

“In the second quarter of 2015, we saw cash-out refinance volumes rise almost 70 percent from the same period last year,” said Graboske. “While this is the highest volume in cash-out refinances we’ve seen in five years, it’s still nearly 80 percent below the peak in Q3 2005. Even so, it’s clear that borrowers have been capitalizing on the increased equity available to them. As we reported in last month’s Mortgage Monitor, total equity of mortgage holders has risen by about $1 trillion over the last year, and ‘tappable’ equity stands at $4.5 trillion. Borrowers today are pulling out an average of $67,000 of equity through cash-out refis, nearly the levels we saw back in 2006. What’s really interesting though, is that even after pulling out that equity, resulting average LTVs are at 68 percent, the lowest level we’ve seen in over 10 years. During this same time span, we’ve seen second lien HELOC lending rise, albeit at a lesser rate; that volume is up 40 percent from last year. However, as interest rates rise, we could see an increase in HELOC lending and corresponding slowing in first lien cash-out refis, as borrowers will likely want to hang on to lower rates for their first mortgage while still being able to tap available equity.”
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph from Black Knight shows average cash out and the resulting LTV. Cash outs are up, but the LTVs are still very low.

From Black Knight:

Borrowers today are pulling out an average of $67,000 of equity through cash-out refinances, nearly at the levels seen back in 2006

Even after pulling out equity, resulting average LTVs are at 68 percent, the lowest level in over 10 years

Less than 10 percent of all cash-out refinances have LTVs above 80 percent, also at the lowest level in over 10 years.

Nearly 60 percent of cash-out refinance volume is coming from borrowers with UPBs below $200K

There is much more in the mortgage monitor.

by Calculated Risk on 10/05/2015 11:36:00 AM

Reis reported that the vacancy rate for regional malls was unchanged at 7.9% in Q3 2015. This is down from a cycle peak of 9.4% in Q3 2011.

For Neighborhood and Community malls (strip malls), the vacancy rate was unchanged at 10.1% in Q3. For strip malls, the vacancy rate peaked at 11.1% in Q3 2011.

Comments from Reis Senior Economist and Director of Research Ryan Severino:

The national vacancy rate for neighborhood and community shopping centers was unchanged during the third quarter at 10.1%. The market is mired in this incredibly slow recovery whereby net absorption exceeds new supply, but not by a wide enough margin to cause vacancy to decline in a meaningful fashion. The vacancy rate for malls also was unchanged again at 7.9%, indicating that this issue is not just confined to one retail subsector.

So where is the demand? To be sure, the market is absorbing space, but not at the pace one would have hoped at this juncture in the cycle. A few things have transpired. First, space in the best centers leased up relatively quickly during this recovery and is largely gone. What remains to be leased is space that is a bit more challenging. Second, ecommerce, though not the leviathan that it is often portrayed to be, is not helping. Many services that people purchase online, such as apps, simply are not available for purchase in a physical store. Ecommerce slowly takes market share away from bricks‐and‐mortar buildings with every passing quarter. Third, the rise of different retail subtypes such as town centers, lifestyle centers, and power centers has given consumers options that they previously did not have. Does that mean we should expect structurally higher vacancy rates for the traditional retail subtypes? Likely yes. Those property subtypes are not likely to reach the same low vacancy rates during this cycle that they have attained in previous cycles. Although retail sales and demand for goods and services continues to increase, it is now spread through many more distribution channels than in the past.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the strip mall vacancy rate starting in 1980 (prior to 2000 the data is annual). The regional mall data starts in 2000. Back in the '80s, there was overbuilding in the mall sector even as the vacancy rate was rising. This was due to the very loose commercial lending that led to the S&L crisis.

In the mid-'00s, mall investment picked up as mall builders followed the "roof tops" of the residential boom (more loose lending). This led to the vacancy rate moving higher even before the recession started. Then there was a sharp increase in the vacancy rate during the recession and financial crisis.

Mall vacancy data courtesy of Reis.

by Calculated Risk on 10/05/2015 10:04:00 AM

The September ISM Non-manufacturing index was at 56.9%, down from 59.0% in August. The employment index increased in September to 58.3%, up from 56.0% in August. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 contraction.

From the Institute for Supply Management: September 2015 Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®

Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in September for the 68th consecutive month, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®.

The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., CFPM, chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. "The NMI® registered 56.9 percent in September, 2.1 percentage points lower than the August reading of 59 percent. This represents continued growth in the non-manufacturing sector at a slower rate. The Non-Manufacturing Business Activity Index decreased to 60.2 percent, which is 3.7 percentage points lower than the August reading of 63.9 percent, reflecting growth for the 74th consecutive month at a slower rate. The New Orders Index registered 56.7 percent, 6.7 percentage points lower than the reading of 63.4 percent in August. The Employment Index increased 2.3 percentage points to 58.3 percent from the August reading of 56 percent and indicates growth for the 19th consecutive month. The Prices Index decreased 2.4 percentage points from the August reading of 50.8 percent to 48.4 percent, indicating prices decreased in September for the first time since February of this year. According to the NMI®, 13 non-manufacturing industries reported growth in September. There has been a cooling off in the rate of growth during the month of September. Also, the trend of lower costs and little pricing power continues as reflected in the contraction of the pricing index. Overall, respondents continue to remain positive about current business conditions."
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

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 57.7% and suggests slower expansion in September than in August.  Still a solid report.

by Calculated Risk on 10/04/2015 08:17:00 PM

Reading articles this weekend on the payroll report, I'm reminded of a sentence I wrote back in March: Why the Prime Labor Force Participation Rate has Declined

"Complaining about the decline in the overall labor force participation rate is the last refuge of scoundrels."

Still true.

Weekend:
• Schedule for Week of October 4, 2015

Monday:
• Early: Reis Q3 2015 Mall Survey of rents and vacancy rates.

• At 10:00 AM, the Fed will release the monthly Labor Market Conditions Index (LMCI).

• Also at 10:00 AM ET, the ISM non-Manufacturing Index for September. The consensus is for index to decrease to 57.7 from 59.0 in August.

From CNBC: Pre-Market Data and Bloomberg futures: currently S&P futures are down 2 and DOW futures are down 14 (fair value).

Oil prices were down slightly over the last week with WTI futures at $45.29 per barrel and Brent at $47.85 per barrel.  A year ago, WTI was at $90, and Brent was at $91 - so prices are down about 50% year-over-year (It was a year ago that prices started falling sharply).

Here is a graph from Gasbuddy.com for nationwide gasoline prices. Nationally prices are at $2.29 per gallon (down about $1.00 per gallon from a year ago).

by Calculated Risk on 10/04/2015 01:11:00 PM

By request, a few more employment graphs ...

Here are the previous posts on the employment report:

• September Employment Report: 142,000 Jobs, 5.1% Unemployment Rate
• Employment Report Comments and more Graphs

Duration of Unemployment
This graph shows the duration of unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force. The graph shows the number of unemployed in four categories: less than 5 week, 6 to 14 weeks, 15 to 26 weeks, and 27 weeks or more.

The general trend is down for all categories, and the "less than 5 weeks", "6 to 14 weeks" and "15 to 26 weeks" are all close to normal levels. 

The long term unemployed is close to 1.3% of the labor force, however the number (and percent) of long term unemployed remains elevated.

Unemployment by Education
This graph shows the unemployment rate by four levels of education (all groups are 25 years and older).

Unfortunately this data only goes back to 1992 and only includes one previous recession (the stock / tech bust in 2001). Clearly education matters with regards to the unemployment rate - and it appears all four groups are generally trending down.

Although education matters for the unemployment rate, it doesn't appear to matter as far as finding new employment.

Note: This says nothing about the quality of jobs - as an example, a college graduate working at minimum wage would be considered "employed".

Construction Employment
This graph shows total construction employment as reported by the BLS (not just residential).

Since construction employment bottomed in January 2011, construction payrolls have increased by 964 thousand.

Construction employment is still far below the bubble peak - and below the level in the late '90s.

Diffusion Indexes
 The BLS diffusion index for total private employment was at 52.9 in September, down from 55.5 in August.

For manufacturing, the diffusion index was at 44.4, up from 39.4 in August.

Think of this as a measure of how widespread job gains are across industries. The further from 50 (above or below), the more widespread the job losses or gains reported by the BLS.  Above 60 is very good.  From the BLS:

Figures are the percent of industries with employment increasing plus one-half of the industries with unchanged employment, where 50 percent indicates an equal balance between industries with increasing and decreasing employment.

Overall private job growth was not very widespread in September.

by Calculated Risk on 10/03/2015 08:11:00 AM

This will be light week for economic data.

----- Monday, October 5th -----
Early: Reis Q3 2015 Mall Survey of rents and vacancy rates.

10:00 AM ET: The Fed will release the monthly Labor Market Conditions Index (LMCI).

10:00 AM: the ISM non-Manufacturing Index for September. The consensus is for index to decrease to 57.7 from 59.0 in August.

----- Tuesday, October 6th -----
8:30 AM: Trade Balance report for August from the Census Bureau.

This graph shows the U.S. trade deficit, with and without petroleum, through July. 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 consensus is for the U.S. trade deficit to be at $48.6 billion in August from $41.9 billion in July.

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

3:00 PM: Consumer Credit for August from the Federal Reserve. The consensus is for an increase of $20.5 billion in credit.

----- Thursday, October 8th -----
8:30 AM: The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released.  The consensus is for 271 thousand initial claims, down from 275 thousand the previous week.

2:00 PM: The Fed will release the FOMC Minutes for the Meeting of September 16-17, 2015

----- Friday, October 9th -----
10:00 AM: Monthly Wholesale Trade: Sales and Inventories for August. The consensus is for a 0.1% increase in inventories.

by Calculated Risk on 10/02/2015 08:33:00 PM

First, a second failure today from the FDIC that makes eight in 2015: Twin City Bank, Longview, Washington, Assumes All of the Deposits of Hometown National Bank, Longview, Washington

As of June 30, 2015, Hometown National Bank had approximately $4.9 million in total assets and $4.7 million in total deposits. ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $1.6 million. ... Hometown National Bank is the eighth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Washington.

Click on graph for larger image.

The first graph shows the number of bank failures per year since the FDIC was founded in 1933.

Typically about 7 banks fail per year, so the 8 failures this year is close to normal.

Note: There were a large number of failures in the '80s and early '90s. Many of these failures were related to loose lending, especially for commercial real estate.  A large number of the failures in the '80s and '90s were in Texas with loose regulation.

Even though there were more failures in the '80s and early '90s, the recent financial crisis was much worse (large banks failed and were bailed out).

The second graph includes pre-FDIC failures. In a typical year - before the Depression - 500 banks would fail and the depositors would lose a large portion of their savings.

Then, during the Depression, thousands of banks failed. Note that the S&L crisis and recent financial crisis look small on this graph.

by Calculated Risk on 10/02/2015 05:43:00 PM

It has been some time since a bank failed ...

From the FDIC: Fidelity Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, Assumes All of the Deposits of the Bank of Georgia, Peachtree City, Georgia

As of June 30, 2015, The Bank of Georgia had approximately $294.2 million in total assets and $280.7 million in total deposits. ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $23.2 million. ... The Bank of Georgia is the seventh FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Georgia.