Weekly Economic Update - September 19, 2011
CPI, PPI TELL DIFFERENT STORIES
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August – and annualized inflation came in at 3.8%, the highest rate in nearly three years. Annualized core inflation was +2.0% given a 0.2% rise in core CPI last month. On the other hand, producer prices showed the smallest annual gain since March: in August, they were up 6.5% year-over-year, compared to a 7.3% differential in May. The overall Producer Price Index was flat last month; core PPI went +0.1%.1,2
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August – and annualized inflation came in at 3.8%, the highest rate in nearly three years. Annualized core inflation was +2.0% given a 0.2% rise in core CPI last month. On the other hand, producer prices showed the smallest annual gain since March: in August, they were up 6.5% year-over-year, compared to a 7.3% differential in May. The overall Producer Price Index was flat last month; core PPI went +0.1%.1,2
retail sales UNCHANGED FOR AUGUST
U.S. retail sales were flat last month, and that news from the Commerce Department wasn’t surprising in light of the recent pressures on household spending. This comes after (revised) gains of 0.2% in June and 0.3% in July.3
U.S. retail sales were flat last month, and that news from the Commerce Department wasn’t surprising in light of the recent pressures on household spending. This comes after (revised) gains of 0.2% in June and 0.3% in July.3
consumerS FEEL A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC
The University of Michigan’s initial September consumer sentiment survey showed some improvement: it came in at 57.8, up from the troublingly low 55.7 final August reading. Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires had expected a rise to 57.0.4
The University of Michigan’s initial September consumer sentiment survey showed some improvement: it came in at 57.8, up from the troublingly low 55.7 final August reading. Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires had expected a rise to 57.0.4
gold DROPS, oil ADVANCES
Gold futures went -2.39% last week, part of a 3.29% two-week decline. The precious metal settled at $1,812.1o an ounce on the COMEX Friday. NYMEX crude closed at $87.96 a barrel Friday, going +0.83% last week and +6.93% in the last four weeks.5
Gold futures went -2.39% last week, part of a 3.29% two-week decline. The precious metal settled at $1,812.1o an ounce on the COMEX Friday. NYMEX crude closed at $87.96 a barrel Friday, going +0.83% last week and +6.93% in the last four weeks.5
CENTRAL BANK PLEDGE GIVES STOCKS A LIFTThursday, the Federal Reserve and four other central banks stated they would offer 3-month dollar loans to European commercial lenders to help them address any 4Q dollar liquidity problems. This aided a rally: U.S. stocks rose each day last week. The S&P 500 had its best week since late June (+5.35%), settling at 1,216.01 Friday. The NASDAQ (+6.25% to 2,622.31) and the Dow (+4.70% to 11,509.09) also climbed.6,7
THIS WEEK: Monday, markets will be poised to respond to the weekend efforts of Eurozone finance ministers (and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner) to craft possible solutions to the EU’s sovereign debt problems; also, Lennar issues earnings. Tuesday, we get data on August housing starts and results from Adobe, ConAgra and Oracle. Wednesday, the Fed’s September policy meeting wraps up, and August existing home sales figures and earnings from General Mills arrive. On Thursday, Nike, FedEx, Discover, Cintas and CarMax issue results; new initial claims figures come in along with September’s Conference Board LEI index. KB Home announces earnings on Friday.
% CHANGE
|
Y-T-D
|
1-YR CHG
|
5-YR AVG
|
10-YR AVG
|
DJIA
|
-0.59
|
+8.63
|
-0.09
|
+2.91
|
NASDAQ
|
-1.15
|
+13.85
|
+3.46
|
+6.60
|
S&P 500
|
-3.31
|
+8.12
|
-1.57
|
+1.71
|
REAL YIELD
|
9/16 RATE
|
1 YR AGO
|
5 YRS AGO
|
10 YRS AGO
|
10 YR TIPS
|
0.13%
|
1.00%
|
2.38%
|
3.50%
|
Sources: online.wsj.com, usatoday.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov - 9/16/118,9,10,11
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
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