Archive for March, 2019

Fed Interest Rate Decision March 2019

Fed Sees Rates Unchanged in 2019

Federal Reserve policymakers expect rates to remain at current levels this year, compared to December’s projection of two hikes. The FOMC also pledged to start slowing the shrinking of its balance sheet in May and stop the drawdown altogether at the end of September. The economic-growth projections were also lowered for this year by a full percentage point to 2.1 percent. Interest Rate in the United States averaged 5.69 percent from 1971 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 20 percent in March of 1980 and a record low of 0.25 percent in December of 2008.

Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-11-08 07:00 PM Fed Interest Rate Decision 2.25% 2.25% 2.25% 2.25%
2018-12-19 07:00 PM Fed Interest Rate Decision 2.5% 2.25% 2.5% 2.5%
2019-01-30 07:00 PM Fed Interest Rate Decision 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5%
2019-03-20 06:00 PM Fed Interest Rate Decision 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5%
2019-03-29 02:30 PM Fed Kaplan Speech
2019-03-29 04:05 PM Fed Quarles Speech
2019-04-10 06:00 PM FOMC Minutes

Fed Sees Rates Unchanged in 2019

The Federal Reserve held the target range for the federal funds rate at 2.25-2.5 percent during its March meeting and lowered its forecast for US economic growth, as widely expected. Fed officials now expect rates to remain at current levels at least until the end of the year, compared to December’s projection of two rate hikes.

Policymakers lowered its 2019 growth forecast to 2.1 percent, compared to 2.3 percent previously estimated; and that for 2020 was also cut to 1.9 percent, compared to 2 percent. The 2021 growth forecast remained unchanged at 1.8 percent. PCE inflation outlook was also revised lower to 1.8 percent in 2019 (vs 1.9 percent in December projection) while inflation for 2020 and 2021 is seen at 2 percent (vs 2.1 percent in December projection). Meanwhile, unemployment is expected to average 3.7 percent in 2019 (vs 3.5 percent in December projection), 3.8 percent in 2020 (vs 3.6 percent) and 3.9 percent in 2021 (vs 3.8 percent).

FOMCStatement:

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in January indicates that the labor market remains strong but that growth of economic activity has slowed from its solid rate in the fourth quarter. Payroll employment was little changed in February, but job gains have been solid, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Recent indicators point to slower growth of household spending and business fixed investment in the first quarter. On a 12-month basis, overall inflation has declined, largely as a result of lower energy prices; inflation for items other than food and energy remains near 2 percent. On balance, market-based measures of inflation compensation have remained low in recent months, and survey-based measures of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed.

Consistent with its statutory mandate, the Committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability. In support of these goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 percent. The Committee continues to view sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near the Committee’s symmetric 2 percent objective as the most likely outcomes. In light of global economic and financial developments and muted inflation pressures, the Committee will be patient as it determines what future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate may be appropriate to support these outcomes.

In determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its maximum employment objective and its symmetric 2 percent inflation objective. This assessment will take into account a wide range of information, including measures of labor market conditions, indicators of inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and readings on financial and international developments.

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/interest-rate

 

Durable Goods Month over Month January

US Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Rise

New orders for US manufactured durable goods rose 0.4 percent from a month earlier in January of 2019, following an upwardly revised 1.3 percent advance in December and beating market expectations of a 0.5 percent drop. Transportation equipment, up five of the last six months, jumped 1.2 percent and drove the increase. Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, went up 0.8 percent, the highest gain since July and rebounding from a 0.9 percent fall in December. Durable Goods Orders in the United States averaged 0.33 percent from 1992 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 23.50 percent in July of 2014 and a record low of -19 percent in August of 2014.

Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-11-21 01:30 PM Durable Goods Orders MoM -4.4% -0.1% -2.5% -1.2%
2018-12-21 01:30 PM Durable Goods Orders MoM 0.8% -4.3% 1.6% 0.8%
2019-02-21 01:30 PM Durable Goods Orders MoM 1.2% 1% 1.5% 2.5%
2019-03-13 12:30 PM Durable Goods Orders MoM 0.4% 1.3% -0.5% -0.9%
2019-04-02 12:30 PM Durable Goods Orders MoM 0.4% -1.3% -0.7%
2019-04-25 12:30 PM Durable Goods Orders MoM -1.5%
2019-05-24 12:30 PM Durable Goods Orders MoM  

 

 

US Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Rise

New orders for US manufactured durable goods increased 0.4 percent from a month earlier in January of 2019, following an upwardly revised 1.3 percent advance in December and beating market expectations of a 0.5 percent drop. Orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, went up 0.8 percent, the highest gain since July and rebounding from a 0.9 percent fall in December.

Transportation equipment, up five of the last six months, drove the increase, $1.0 billion or 1.2 percent to $90.9 billion. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.1 percent, after an upwardly revised 0.3 percent rise in December and compared to forecasts of a 0.1 percent gain. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.7 percent, following an upwardly revised 2.2 percent rise in the previous month.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.4 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,181.9 billion.  This followed a 0.1 percent December decrease. Transportation equipment, also up following three consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 0.1 percent to $811.6 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, up twenty-four of the last twenty-five months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.4 percent to $417.0 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent December increase. Transportation equipment, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $1.2 billion or 0.9 percent to $132.6 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in January increased $2.0 billion or 2.5 percent to $80.3 billion. Shipments decreased $1.3 billion or 1.6 percent to $78.4 billion. Unfilled orders increased $1.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $711.0 billion. Inventories increased $0.9 billion or 0.5 percent to $182.8 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in January decreased $0.3 billion or 2.3 percent to $12.5 billion. Shipments increased $0.4 billion or 3.4 percent to $13.0 billion.  Unfilled orders decreased $0.5 billion or 0.3 percent to $156.0 billion. Inventories increased $0.4 billion or 1.6 percent to $23.0 billion.

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/durable-goods-orders

 

February Inflation Year over Year

Core Inflation

US core consumer prices, excluding volatile items such as food and energy, increased 2.1 percent from a year earlier in February 2019, easing from a 2.2 percent gain in the previous month and slightly below market expectations of a 2.2 percent rise. It is the smallest annual increase in core consumer prices since October. Core Inflation Rate in the United States averaged 3.62 percent from 1957 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 13.60 percent in June of 1980 and a record low of 0 percent in May of 1957.

Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-12-12 01:30 PM Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.2% 2.1% 2.2% 2.3%
2019-01-11 01:30 PM Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.2% 2.2% 2.2% 2.2%
2019-02-13 01:30 PM Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.2% 2.2% 2.1% 2.%
2019-03-12 12:30 PM Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.1% 2.2% 2.2% 2.2%
2019-04-10 12:30 PM Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.1% 2.2%
2019-05-10 12:30 PM Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.2%
2019-06-12 12:30 PM Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.1%

 

 

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/core-inflation-rate

 

 

Standard Inflation

Consumer prices in the United States increased 1.5 percent year-on-year in February of 2019, following a 1.6 percent rise in January and below market expectations of 1.6 percent. It is the lowest inflation rate since September of 2016, mainly due to a fall in cost of gasoline and clothing while prices of electricity stalled. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.2 percent after a flat reading in January, matching forecasts. It is the first monthly rise in the CPI, due to prices of food, gasoline and rents. Inflation Rate in the United States averaged 3.26 percent from 1914 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 23.70 percent in June of 1920 and a record low of -15.80 percent in June of 1921.

Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-12-12 01:30 PM Inflation Rate YoY 2.2% 2.5% 2.2% 2.4%
2019-01-11 01:30 PM Inflation Rate YoY 1.9% 2.2% 1.9% 2.2%
2019-02-13 01:30 PM Inflation Rate YoY 1.6% 1.9% 1.5% 1.9%
2019-03-12 12:30 PM Inflation Rate YoY 1.5% 1.6% 1.6% 1.6%
2019-04-10 12:30 PM Inflation Rate YoY 1.5% 1.6%
2019-05-10 12:30 PM Inflation Rate YoY 1.7%
2019-06-12 12:30 PM Inflation Rate YoY 1.6%

 

United States Inflation Rate Lowest since 2016

Consumer prices in the United States increased 1.5 percent year-on-year in February of 2019, following a 1.6 percent rise in January and below market expectations of 1.6 percent. It is the lowest inflation rate since September of 2016, mainly due to a fall in cost of gasoline and clothing while prices of electricity stalled. On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.2 percent after a flat reading in January, matching forecasts. It is the first monthly rise in the CPI, due to prices of food, gasoline and rents.

Year-on-year, prices fell for gasoline (-9.1 pecent compared to -10.1 percent in January); fuel oil (-2.4 percent compared to -8.1 percent); medical care commodities (-1.1 percent compared to -0.3 percent); apparel (-0.8 percent compared to +0.1 percent) and utility piped gas service (-2.6 percent compared to +4.3 percent). Also, prices slowed for transportation services (1.1 percent compared to 2 percent); used cars and trucks (1.1 percent compared to 1.6 percent); and new vehicles (0.3 percent compared to 0 percent) and stalled for electricity (0 percent compared to 1.3 percent). On the other hand, inflation increased for shelter (3.4 percent compared to 3.2 percent) and food (2 percent compared to 1.6 percent) and was flat for medical care services (2.4 percent, the same as in January).

Excluding food and energy, core inflation rate edged down to 2.1 percent from 2.2 percent in January, below forecasts of 2.2 percent.

Month-over-month, the indexes for shelter and food increased, and the gasoline index rose after recent declines to result in the seasonally adjusted all items increase. The food index rose 0.4 percent, its largest monthly increase since May 2014, as both the food at home and food away from home indexes increased. The gasoline index rose 1.5 percent in February, following three consecutive monthly declines, resulting in the energy index rising 0.4 percent despite declines in the electricity and natural gas indexes.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in February after rising 0.2 percent in January, matching market expectations. Along with the shelter index, the indexes or personal care, apparel, and education all increased. The indexes for recreation, medical care, used cars and trucks, and new vehicles all declined in February.

 

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISM Manufacturing February 2019

The ISM Manufacturing PMI in the US fell to 54.2 in February of 2019 from 56.6 in January, below market expectations of 55.5. The reading pointed to the slowest growth in factory activity since November of 2016 as new orders, production and employment increased less. Business Confidence in the United States is reported by Institute for Supply Management.

 

The ISM Manufacturing PMI in the US fell to 54.2 in February of 2019 from 56.6 in January, below market expectations of 55.5. The reading pointed to the slowest growth in factory activity since November of 2016 as new orders, production and employment increased less. 

Slower growth rates were seen in new orders (55.5 from 58.2), production (54.8 from 60.5), employment (52.3 from 55.5) and supplier deliveries (54.9 from 56.2). In contrast, the pace picked up for inventories (53.4 from 52.8), backlogs of orders (52.3 from 50.3) and new export orders (52.8 from 51.8) while price pressures decreased (49.4 from 49.6).

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 16 reported growth in February, in the following order: Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Fabricated Metal Products; Paper Products; Wood Products; Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Petroleum & Coal Products; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; Furniture & Related Products; and Plastics & Rubber Products. The only industry reporting contraction in February is Nonmetallic Mineral Products.

Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2019-01-03 03:00 PM ISM Manufacturing New Orders 51.1 62.1
2019-01-03 03:00 PM ISM Manufacturing Prices 54.9 60.7 58
2019-02-01 03:00 PM ISM Manufacturing PMI 56.6 54.3 54.2 52
2019-03-01 03:00 PM ISM Manufacturing PMI 54.2 56.6 55.5 55
2019-04-01 02:00 PM ISM Manufacturing PMI 54.2 53
2019-05-01 02:00 PM ISM Manufacturing PMI
2019-06-03 02:00 PM ISM Manufacturing PMI

 

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/business-confidence