Economic Report – Monday, August 4, 2014

First, real GDP increased by a healthy 4.0 percent in the second quarter, more than offsetting the 2.1 percent drop in output during the first quarter.

Consumer and business spending spurred the higher figure. Inventory investments alone contributed one-third of the growth in real GDP for the quarter, with higher investment levels for housing, nonresidential structures, equipment and intellectual property.

In addition, goods spending increased at its fastest pace since the fourth quarter of 2010. Net exports, however, continued to be a weakness, with growth in goods imports outstripping increases in goods exports.

Moreover, one cannot help but be frustrated with weak economic growth so far this year, even if the outlook has improved. Real GDP rose by a frustratingly slow 0.9 percent in the first half of 2014.

Fortunately, manufacturers are cautiously upbeat about future growth.

Real Gross Domestic Product (Chained 2005 Dollars)

The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased from 55.3 in June to 57.1 in July. More importantly, the production index has measured 60 or more for each of the past three months, indicating strong output growth. Demand and hiring were also up sharply, but export sales growth eased, and raw material costs remained elevated. Similarly, the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank’s survey also noted accelerating manufacturing activity, with overall activity up for the 14th consecutive month. The underlying data in that report were mostly higher across-the-board, and at least 45 percent of respondents expect sales, production and shipments to increase over the coming months, with just single-digit percentages anticipating declines. These findings mirror those of other recent regional surveys.

Meanwhile, the latest jobs report was mostly positive, with manufacturers adding 28,000 workers on net in July. More than half of that stemmed from the automotive sector, signifying that, if anything, employment growth could be more broad-based within the sector, extending in particular to the nondurable goods sector more. Yet, manufacturing employment has picked up, averaging 22,000 over the past three months and nearly 15,000 per month since August. Moreover, we continue to hear about skills shortages in many locations, which could create wage pressures moving forward. In fact, during the second quarter, manufacturing wages and salaries increased at their fastest pace in more than a decade, driving up overall employment costs. Nonetheless, total compensation for manufacturers has risen by 2.1 percent year-over-year, suggesting that wage pressures remain in check for the most part—at least for now.

Along those lines, personal income and spending both increased by 0.4 percent in June. Since January, when winter weather dampened purchases, personal spending has risen 2.2 percent, with year-over-year growth of 4.0 percent. This suggests that Americans continue to spend at a decent pace, even if their purchase decisions remain selective and cautious. Furthermore, there were two consumer confidence surveys released last week, with each moving in opposite directions. The University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters found that sentiment edged lower in July, with little change in confidence since December and persistent anxieties about the future direction of the economy. In contrast, the Conference Board observed that sentiment was at its highest point since the beginning of the recession (December 2007), led by an improved perception about the labor market. However, rising confidence did not necessarily translate into increased buying intentions.

For its part, the Federal Reserve Board noted recent improvements in the economy, but it also believes there continues to be “significant underutilization of labor resources.” The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to continue tapering its long-term and mortgage-backed security purchases, down from $35 billion to $25 billion per month. These purchases are expected to end by October. While the FOMC will keep short-term rates near zero for now, these rates are predicted to begin rising sometime early in 2015. Nonetheless, the Federal Reserve will continue to monitor incoming economic data, including inflationary pressures. Recent data have shown prices accelerating, but at least for now, they appear to be under control. For instance, core inflation, which excludes food and energy costs, has increased 1.6 percent over the past 12 months, according to personal consumption expenditure deflator data released last week.

Source: Shopfloor