by Calculated Risk on 10/11/2017 07:00:00 AM

From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications decreased 2.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 6, 2017.

... The Refinance Index decreased 4 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 0.1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 0.1 percent compared with the previous week and was 7 percent higher than the same week one year ago. ...

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($424,100 or less) increased to 4.16 percent from 4.12 percent, with points decreasing to 0.44 from 0.45 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.


The first graph shows the refinance index since 1990.

Refinance activity will not pick up significantly unless mortgage rates fall well below 4%.


The second graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index.

According to the MBA, purchase activity is up 7% year-over-year.

by Calculated Risk on 10/10/2017 07:38:00 PM

From Matthew Graham at Mortgage News Daily: Mortgage Rates Little-Changed Near 4%

Mortgage rates were marginally lower today compared to last week, but only when factoring in upfront finance charges.  Actual quoted interest rates have been unchanged for more than a week with the average lender quoting conventional 30yr fixed rates of 4.0% on top tier scenarios.

Wednesday:
• At 7:00 AM ET: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the results for the mortgage purchase applications index.

• At 10:00 AM: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for August from the BLS. Jobs openings increased in July to 6.170 million from 6.116 in June.  This was the highest number of job openings since this series started in December 2000. The number of job openings were up 3% year-over-year, and Quits were up 4% year-over-year.

• At 2:00 PM: FOMC Minutes, Meeting of September 19 - 20, 2017

by Calculated Risk on 10/10/2017 02:55:00 PM

At the end of last year, I posted Ten Economic Questions for 2017. I followed up with a brief post on each question. The goal was to provide an overview of what I expected in 2017 (I don't have a crystal ball, but I think it helps to outline what I think will happen - and understand - and change my mind, when the outlook is wrong).

By request, here is a quick Q3 review. I've linked to my posts from the beginning of the year, with a brief excerpt and a few comments:

10) Question #10 for 2017: Will housing inventory increase or decrease in 2017?

I was wrong on inventory last year, but right now my guess is active inventory will increase in 2017 (inventory will decline seasonally in December and January, but I expect to see inventory up again year-over-year in December 2017).   My reasons for expecting more inventory are 1) inventory is historically low (lowest for November since 2000), 2) and the recent increase in interest rates.

According to the August NAR report on existing home sales, inventory was down 6.5% year-over-year in August, and the months-of-supply was at 4.2 months. This was the smallest year-over-year decline this year, but it appears unlikely inventory will be up by year end.  This is a key metric to watch!

9) Question #9 for 2017: What will happen with house prices in 2017?

Inventories will probably remain low in 2017, although I expect inventories to increase on a year-over-year basis by December of 2017.  Low inventories, and a decent economy suggests further price increases in 2017.

Perhaps higher mortgage rates will slow price appreciation.  If we look back at the "taper tantrum" in 2013, price appreciation slowed somewhat over the next year - but that was from a high level.  In June 2013, the Case-Shiller National index was up 9.3% year-over-year.  By June 2014, the index was up 6.3% year-over-year.

If inventory increases year-over-year as I expect by December 2017, it seems likely that price appreciation will slow to the low-to-mid single digits.

The Case-Shiller data released last month showed prices up 5.9% year-over-year in July.  The Case-Shiller year-over-year increase is about the same as the annual increase in 2016.

8) Question #8 for 2017: How much will Residential Investment increase?

Most analysts are looking for starts to increase to around 1.25 million in 2017, and for new home sales of around 600 to 650 thousand. This would be an increase of around 7% for starts and maybe 10% for new home sales.

I think there will be further growth in 2017, but I think a combination of higher mortgage rates, less multi-family starts, and not enough lots for low-to-mid range new homes will mean sluggish growth in 2017.

My guess is starts will increase to just over 1.2 million in 2017 and new home sales will be in the low 600 thousand range.

Through August, starts were up 2.7% year-over-year compared to the same period in 2016.  And new home sales were up 7.5% year-over-year.   About as expected.

7) Question #7 for 2017: How much will wages increase in 2017?

As the labor market continues to tighten, we should see more wage pressure as companies have to compete for employees. I expect to see some further increases in both the Average hourly earning from the CES, and in the Atlanta Fed Wage Tracker.  Perhaps nominal wages will increase more than 3% in 2017 according to the CES.

Through September 2017, nominal hourly wages were up 2.9% year-over-year. This is a pickup from last year, and so far it appears wages will increase at a faster rate in 2017.

6) Question #6 for 2017: Will the Fed raise rates in 2017, and if so, by how much?

Analysts are being cautious on forecasting rate hikes, probably because they forecasted too many hikes over the last few years. However, as the economy approaches full employment, and with the possibility of fiscal stimulus in 2017, it is possible that inflation will pick up a little - and, if so, the Fed could hike more than expected.

My current guess is the Fed will hike twice in 2017.

The Fed has already hiked twice in 2017, and started to reduce the balance sheet.  The Fed is still forecasting three hikes this year.    The third hike is currently expected in December.

5) Question #5 for 2017: Will the core inflation rate rise in 2017? Will too much inflation be a concern in 2017?

The Fed is projecting core PCE inflation will increase to 1.8% to 1.9% by Q4 2017.  However there are risks for higher inflation.  The labor market is approaching full employment, and the new administration is proposing some fiscal stimulus (tax cuts, possible infrastructure spending), so it is possible - as a result - that inflation will increase more than expected in 2017 and 2018.

Currently I think PCE core inflation (year-over-year) will increase further and be close to 2% in 2017, but too much inflation will still not be a serious concern in 2017.

Inflation has eased, and is below the Fed's target by most measures.

4) Question #4 for 2017: What will the unemployment rate be in December 2017?

Depending on the estimate for the participation rate and job growth (next question), it appears the unemployment rate will declining slightly by December 2017 from the current 4.7%.

The unemployment rate was at 4.2% in September - a little below the level I expected for the end of 2017.

3) Question #3 for 2017: Will job creation slow further in 2017?

So my forecast is for gains of 125,000 to 150,000 payroll jobs per month in 2017.  Lower than in 2016, but another solid year for employment gains given current demographics.

Through September 2017, the economy has added 1,519,000 jobs, or 152,000 per month, down from 187,000 per month in 2016. This is as expected.

2) Question #2 for 2017: How much will the economy grow in 2017?

There will probably be some economic boost from oil sector investment in 2017 since oil prices have increased (this was a drag last year).

The housing recovery is ongoing, however auto sales might have peaked.

And demographics are improving (the prime working age population is growing about 0.5% per year, compared to declining a few years ago).

All these factors combined will probably push GDP growth into the mid-to-high 2% range in 2017, but this will depend somewhat on which policies are enacted.

GDP averaged just over 2% in the first half of 2017.  It is too early to tell if there will be any pickup in GDP growth this year.

1) Question #1 for 2017: What about fiscal and regulatory policy in 2017?

We are still waiting for the details. As far as the impact on 2017, my expectation is there will be both individual and corporate tax cuts - and some sort of infrastructure program. I expect that something will happen with the ACA (those that have insurance for 2017 will keep their insurance, but they might not have insurance in 2018 - and that impact would be in 2018). I think the negative proposals (immigration, trade) will impact the economy in 2018 or later - overall there will be a small boost to GDP in 2017.

A final comment:  The words of a President matter. Mr Trump has been impulsive, reckless and irresponsible with his comments, and that has continued since the election. One absurd comment could send the markets into a tailspin and negatively impact the economy (and that could happen at any time).

So far nothing has happened with the ACA, taxes, infrastructure, or trade.  Policy remains a wild card.

Currently it looks like 2017 is unfolding mostly as expected.

by Calculated Risk on 10/10/2017 12:23:00 PM

Recently I’ve spoken to a few Trump supporters who think Mr. Trump has extensive negotiating experience. They are wrong.

In general, there are two types of negotiations. There is the “win-lose” type (or Distributive negotiation) where one party receives more and the other party receives less. This is the common approach when buying a car or real estate, or haggling at a street market.

The other type of negotiation is “win-win” (or Integrative negotiation). This type is used when negotiating between a company and a worker’s union, with long term suppliers, negotiating agreements between international allies – and even with adversaries.

The tactics for the two types of negotiations are very different. In the first type (win-lose), bluffing, threats (like threatening to walk away), even lying are commonly used.  (Sound familiar?)

The approach to an integrative negotiation includes building trust, understanding the other party’s concerns, and knowing the details of the agreement – with the goal to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

It is important to understand when each approach is appropriate. A used car buyer could use the Integrative negotiation approach, but they probably wouldn’t get a very good deal.

A company could use the “win-lose” tactics with a worker’s union, but they would probably face an extended strike followed by a long period of ill-will.

This brings me to Mr. Trump. He has experience in “win-lose” negotiations (buying and selling real estate), but apparently little or no experience in Integrative negotiations.

Mr. Trump keeps using the tactics of “win-lose” in negotiating with Congress, allies and adversaries. Not only has this been ineffective (members of Congress have repeatedly called his bluffs), but it is damaging to long term relationships. Mr. Trump’s use of “win-lose” techniques with North Korea have made him look weak and ineffective (a “dotard”), and have increased the risks of a major misunderstanding and possibly a war.

So, what can Mr. Trump do to be effective? First, he needs to realize he lacks the negotiating experience that is required for these types of negotiations. He needs to stop with the empty threats, bluffs, and lying. And he either needs to learn the integrative negotiation approach (and become a student of the details), or hire people with relevant negotiating experience (and remove himself from the process).   All of this seems unlikely, and I expect Mr. Trump to continue using inappropriate tactics - that betray his lack of negotiating experience.

by Calculated Risk on 10/10/2017 10:00:00 AM

Notes: This CoreLogic House Price Index report is for August. The recent Case-Shiller index release was for July. The CoreLogic HPI is a three month weighted average and is not seasonally adjusted (NSA).

From CoreLogic: CoreLogic US Home Price Report Shows Prices Up 6.9 Percent in August 2017

August National Home Prices Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year over year by 6.9 percent in August 2017 compared with August 2016 and increased month over month by 0.9 percent in August 2017 compared with July 2017. ...The CoreLogic HPI Forecast indicates that home prices will increase by 4.7 percent on a year-over-year basis from August 2017 to August 2018, and on a month-over-month basis home prices are expected to increase by 0.1 percent from August 2017 to September 2017.
emphasis added

CR Note: The YoY increase has been in the 5% to 7% range for the last couple of years.

The year-over-year comparison has been positive for over five consecutive years since turning positive year-over-year in February 2012.

by Calculated Risk on 10/10/2017 08:43:00 AM

From the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): Small Business Optimism Slides in September, Expected business conditions tumble in NFIB Optimism Index

The NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism tumbled in September from 105.3 to 103 led by a steep drop in sales expectations, not just in hurricane-affected states, but across the country.

“The temptation is to blame the decline on the hurricanes in Texas and Florida, but that is not consistent with our data,” said Juanita Duggan, NFIB President and CEO. “Small business owners across the country were measurably less enthusiastic last month.”
...
Job creation weakened in the small business sector as business owners reported an adjusted average employment change per firm of -0.17 workers. Decreases were reported by owners in six of the nine Census regions, so it wasn’t just a hurricane effect. ... Nineteen percent of owners cited the difficulty of finding qualified workers as their Single Most Important Business Problem (unchanged), second only to taxes. This is the top ranked problem for those in construction (30 percent) and manufacturing (28 percent), getting more votes than taxes and regulations.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the small business optimism index since 1986.

The index decreased to 103.0 in September.

by Calculated Risk on 10/09/2017 05:30:00 PM

From Tim Duy at Fed Watch: On Track For a December Rate Hike

The headline figure on nonfarm payrolls report came in well below already withered expectations, but the disappointment was more than compensated for in the details of both the establishment and household survey. The Fed is looking for data that allows them to overlook the weak inflation data. This was just that sort of data.
...
An unemployment rate at 4.2% will rattle Fed officials already worried about pushing too far below full employment under the current projections. This will go a long way toward offsetting their nagging worries about low inflation.
...
The data calendar is a bit slower this week. Look for the JOLTS report (Wednesday), inflation indicator reports PPI (Thursday) and CPI (Friday), and readings on the demand side of the economy from retail sales and business inventories (both on Friday).

In addition, we have plenty of Fed speakers, including regional Presidents Kashkari (Tuesday), Evans (Wednesday), Bostic (Thursday), and Rosengren and Kaplan (Friday). I don’t think we will see anything new from these speakers regarding monetary policy. Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell speaks Thursday (keynote address on emerging markets) and Friday (“Are Rules Made to be Broken? Discretion and Monetary Policy,” an event for which I foolishly forgot to make an effort to attend). Neither speech will likely give direct policy guidance, but with Powell rumored to be a contender for the top spot at the Fed, they will offer additional opportunity to explore his thinking.

Bottom Line: December rate hike still a go; low unemployment outweighs low inflation for now. That will change next year if job growth slows further and unemployment stabilizes.

by Calculated Risk on 10/09/2017 12:11:00 PM

Here is another update on framing lumber prices. Early in 2013 lumber prices came close to the housing bubble highs - and prices are once again near the bubble highs.

The price increases in early 2013 were due to a surge in demand (more housing starts) and supply constraints (framing lumber suppliers were working to bring more capacity online).

Prices didn't increase as much early in 2014 (more supply, smaller "surge" in demand).

In 2015, even with the pickup in U.S. housing starts, prices were down year-over-year.  Note: Multifamily starts do not use as much lumber as single family starts, and there was a surge in multi-family starts.  This decline in 2015 was also probably related to weakness in China.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

This graph shows two measures of lumber prices: 1) Framing Lumber from Random Lengths through early Sept 2017 (via NAHB), and 2) CME framing futures.

Prices in 2017 are up solidly year-over-year and might approach or exceed the housing bubble highs in the Spring of 2018.

Right now Random Lengths prices are up 22% from a year ago, and CME futures are up about 19% year-over-year.

There is a seasonal pattern for lumber prices. Prices frequently peak around May, and bottom around October or November - although there is quite a bit of seasonal variability.

by Calculated Risk on 10/09/2017 10:02:00 AM

A few comments from Steven Kopits of Princeton Energy Advisors LLC on Oct 6, 2017:

• The US oil rig count is largely stable

• Total US oil rigs were down 2 to 748

• Horizontal oil rigs were down 1 to 641
...
• Overall, the rig count looks like it’s moving sideways.

Click on graph for larger image.

CR note: This graph shows the US horizontal rig count by basin.

Graph and comments Courtesy of Steven Kopits of Princeton Energy Advisors LLC.

by Calculated Risk on 10/09/2017 08:11:00 AM

Note: This index is possibly a leading indicator for new non-residential Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment, except manufacturing.

From Dodge Data Analytics: Dodge Momentum Index Declines In September

The Dodge Momentum Index fell in September, moving 8.4% lower to 116.4 (2000=100) from the revised August reading of 127.1. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. Both components of the Momentum Index declined in September. The institutional building component fell 11.5% from August, while the commercial building component fell 6.1%. While the overall Momentum Index has lost ground for four consecutive months, this should not be seen, in and of itself, as a predictor of a turn in building markets. Prior to the previous peak of the Momentum Index in January 2008 it had suffered similar significant declines, only to rebound and post strong gains in subsequent months in line with overall economic growth. Similarly, the Momentum Index posted healthy gains from late-2016 through early 2017. Economic growth remains solid, and building market fundamentals are supportive of further growth in construction activity.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the Dodge Momentum Index since 2002. The index was at 116.4 in September, down from 127.1 in August.

The index is down 4.6% year-over-year.

According to Dodge, this index leads "construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year". This suggests some softness in CRE spending next year.