This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 24 February 2023

By: Taro Chellaram /Wells Fargo Economics & Financial Report/Feb 28, 2023

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 24 February 2023

Mixed Housing Data and Upside Inflation Surprise

n a light week for economic data, market participants continued to digest last week's slew of strongerthan-expected reports. Retail sales and manufacturing production surprised to the upside, while the Consumer Price Index rose at its fastest pace since October. While seasonal factors likely boosted some of these headline figures, the string of beats raises the potential for more aggressive moves from the Federal Reserve. As discussed in Interest Rate Watch, the minutes of the last FOMC meeting (released on Wednesday) underscored the Committee's resolve to bring down inflation and suggest more members may be drifting toward the hawkish camp.

One sector that has acutely felt the effects of the FOMC's policy tightening thus far is housing. Existing home sales fell 0.7% to a 4.0 million-unit annualized pace in January. The slip marks the 12th consecutive month that sales have declined and brought the year-over-year change down to an alltime low of -36.9%. The pullback in sales has helped to cool off home price appreciation. The median single-family home price was $363,100 in January, down nearly 14% from its recent peak of $420,900 in June 2022. Inventory remains low by historical standards but edged up slightly in January as the spring selling season starts to get under way. This year will likely be different than last year—to learn more, join a webinar with our real estate economists on Wednesday, March 1 as they discuss the housing market outlook for 2023.

Meanwhile, new home sales leaped 7.2% in January to a 670,000-unit annualized pace, the highest since March. The median new home sales price was $427,500 during the month, which is down 0.7% over the year. The price decline likely reflects home builders offering interest rate buy-downs and sale price discounts to move inventory. For-sale inventory totaled 439,000 units at the end of January, down nearly 3% over the month.

Despite the bite of high mortgage rates and still-elevated home prices, brighter days may be ahead for housing demand. Strong labor market conditions have supported real income growth, and recent upward revisions to personal income suggest households have more purchasing power than previously thought. Specifically, fourth quarter personal income was lifted by $185B and the third quarter was revised higher by roughly $108B. The positive revisions meant consumers came into the year with a bit more dry powder, likely driving the 1.1% jump in real personal spending in January. Solid spending in discretionary categories, such as food services & accommodations (+4.6%), recreation services (+1.4%) and transportation services (+0.9%), is a sign of the continued resilience of household spending.

While strength in real consumption is a positive development, it also adds pressure to inflation. The core PCE deflator, which excludes food and energy, rose a higher-than-expected 0.6% in January. The increase bumped the year-over-year percent change to 4.7%, up from 4.6% in December, which is well-above the FOMC's 2% inflation target.




This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 17 September 2021

While we were picking up tree limbs from the yard, data released this week generally showed a stronger economy in August than many expected in the wake of surging COVID cases.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 05 June 2020

Data this week continued to suggest the U.S. economy hit rock bottom in April. Still, it is a long road to recovery and the pickup in economic activity will be gradual.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 11 September 2020

In the holiday-shortened week, analysts’ attention remained on the progress of the labor market. Recent jobless claims data remain stubbornly high and point to a slowing jobs rebound.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 23 July 2021

In the biggest financial news this week not connected to college football conference realignment, July\'s NAHB Housing Market Index slipped one point to 80.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 10 November 2020

The U.S. election has come and gone, but we have not made any meaningful changes to our economic outlook, which continues to look for further expansion in the U.S. economy in coming quarters.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 29 July 2022

Unlike the local temperatures, data released this week showed U.S. economic growth modestly declined in Q2.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 22 January 2021

Housing starts jumped 5.8% during December. Single-family starts soared 12%, while multifamily starts dropped 13.6%.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 03 September 2021

e move into the Labor Day weekend celebrating the 235K jobs added in August, while simultaneously lamenting that it was about half a million jobs short of expectations.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 04 June 2021

The CDC\'s relaxation of its mask mandate occurred mid-May, and as data for that month begins rolling in this week, it is evident there is no lack of demand. Supplies, on the other hand, are a worsening problem.

This Week's State Of The Economy - What Is Ahead? - 02 July 2020

It was a mildly busy week for foreign economic data and events, while global COVID-19 cases continued to rise.


Instagram

@ tcgcrealestate

Subscribe Now! IT's Free

Stay up to date with all news coming straight in your mailbox.

Copyright © 2023 TC Global Commercial. All rights reserved.