Economic data were stuck in the doldrums this week, highlighted by the latest bump in the road back toward 2% inflation. January CPI data came in hotter than expected, propelled in part by an outsized jump in energy services and food prices. Excluding food and energy, core CPI rose 0.4% in the month, also eclipsing consensus estimates. Peeling back the layers, core goods prices declined over the month alongside a fall in used car prices. Core goods inflation is now largely back to its pre-pandemic pace. By contrast, core services inflation continues to be elevated. Core services prices advanced 0.7% over the month, the largest gain in 16 months. At the center of the monthly gain was a move higher in price growth for owners' equivalent rent, medical care services and travel services, such as airfares and hotels. Despite the hot reading, we believe core services inflation will continue to trend down in the months ahead. Primary shelter prices, which we cover more in-depth in Topic of the Week, have room to decelerate based on leading indicators for this series, and the jump in travel-related prices is unlikely to be sustained.
All of that being said, January’s hot CPI report marked the second month in a row inflation exceeded expectations and is a reminder that despite a trend decline in inflation over the past year, the battle is not yet over. Indeed, the run rate of core CPI inflation has trended upward over the past five months. Since bottoming out at 2.6% in August of last year, the three-month annualized rate of core CPI growth has risen to 4.0% through January. Such developments are not likely to lower the FOMC’s confidence that inflation is completely under control. Our base case is for the FOMC to commence its rate-cutting cycle at its May meeting. However, there remain two more CPI reports between now and the May FOMC meeting, as well as a host of other economic data. If the downward trend in inflation continues to stall, we acknowledge that the first rate cut could slip into the summer.
Retail sales surprised to the downside to start 2024. Overall retail sales slipped 0.8% over the month, the largest drop in 10 months. January spending is typically affected by a post-holiday pullback and colder weather, subjecting it to considerable seasonal adjustment. With those factors in mind, the disappointing report implies that unadjusted sales were even weaker last month. Even when controlling for volatile components such as autos and food services, monthly sales still slumped. Weak spending was broad-based across retailers, implying a general pullback in consumer spending rather than selective cutbacks. One bright spot in the data was a boost to food services & drinking places sales, suggesting service-sector activity held up to start the year. Although eye-catching, January's drop in retail sales likely does not indicate that a sustained pullback in consumption is forthcoming. Households continue to benefit from real income gains, and a sturdy labor market should continue to support consumer spending.
Less sturdy was the manufacturing sector, which continued to fly at stall speed in January. Industrial production ticked down 0.1% over the month as high rates have kept the sector in a holding pattern over the past year. Weakness was concentrated in manufacturing and mining output, which comprise about 90% of the total industrial production index. A jump in utilities production helped offset declines in other categories, but overall industrial activity continues to be constrained by economic uncertainty and higher financing costs crimping capex investment. We look for production to firm up in the second half of 2024 as the Federal Reserve eventually eases monetary policy.
Housing Starts Plunged in January Alongside Harsh Weather
The out-of-consensus start to the year for economic data continued with a startling 14.8% drop in housing starts during January. The drop occurred in both single-family and multifamily starts. Here, the weather appears mostly to blame. During January, wide swaths of the nation experienced cold temperatures, snow, heavy rainfall and flooding, conditions which are hardly conducive to construction. Through the monthly volatility, however, the diverging trend between single-family construction and weakening multifamily development remained in place. Single-family permits rose 1.6% during January, and they have steadily risen over the course of the past year and are now up nearly 36% since reaching a bottom in January 2023. The improvement reflects builders becoming more confident in future sales on account of eroding resale affordability and their ability to boost demand through price discounts, mortgage rate buy-downs and other sales incentives. A solid gain in February's NAHB Housing Market Index indicates that lower mortgage rates recently are further lifting the spirits of home builders. By contrast, a 7.9% decline in multifamily permits is the latest sign that apartment and condo development is moving into a lower gear alongside deteriorating apartment market conditions, largely stemming from the wave of recently delivered projects as well as a robust pipeline of under-construction units.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 23 December 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Dec 26, 2020
Vaccines are here, but they are not yet widely available in a way that can stem the spread of a disease that grows by 200K a day.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 12 February 2021
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Feb 19, 2021
Market attention was concentrated on the January consumer price data, as inflation has come back into focus.
Rising COVID-19 Cases Put A Damper On Re-openings
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Jun 27, 2020
The rising number of COVID-19 infections gained momentum this week, with most of the rise occurring in the South and West. The rise in infections is larger than can be explained by increased testing alone and is slowing re-openings.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 10 March 2023
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Mar 14, 2023
Financial markets were looking for validation that January\'s unexpected strength was not a fluke and that the downward slide in economic momentum experienced late last year had stabilized.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 22 April 2022
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Apr 27, 2022
I’ll wish you a Happy Earth Day anyway. Don’t expect a card this year. While the Earth continues to thankfully revolve at a steady rate, rising mortgage rates appear to be slowing residential activity
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 20 December 2019
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Dec 21, 2019
President Trump became the third president in U.S. history to be impeached by the House, but removal by the Senate is highly unlikely. The House also passed the USMCA, which should be signed into law in early 2020.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 02 October 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Sep 29, 2020
In what was a jam-packed week of economic data, the jobs report, prospects of additional fiscal stimulus and the president’s positive COVID-19 test result commanded markets’ attention.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 16 July 2021
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Jul 30, 2021
Visiting from Texas, it felt more like fall, which like the Texas cold-snap last February just goes to show that it’s a case of what you’re used to.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 17 March 2023
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Mar 21, 2023
Retail sales declined 0.4% during February, while industrial production was flat (0.0%). Housing starts and permits jumped 9.8% and 13.8%, respectively.
This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 23 September 2020
Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report / Sep 22, 2020
European activity is surging. Germany and Italy are leading the way, but France is close behind despite an ongoing rise in cases. The Google data are a bit outdated, but are hard to reconcile with today’s weak Eurozone services PMI figures.
