Friday, December 29, 2017

Long-Term Charts Of The ECRI WLI & ECRI WLI, Gr. – December 29, 2017 Update

As I stated in my July 12, 2010 post (“ECRI WLI Growth History“):
For a variety of reasons, I am not as enamored with ECRI’s WLI and WLI Growth measures as many are.
However, I do think the measures are important and deserve close monitoring and scrutiny.
Below are three long-term charts, from Doug Short’s ECRI update post of December 29, 2017 titled “ECRI Weekly Leading Index…”  These charts are on a weekly basis through the December 29, 2017 release, indicating data through December 22, 2017.
Here is the ECRI WLI (defined at ECRI’s glossary):
ECRI WLI
This next chart depicts, on a long-term basis, the Year-over-Year change in the 4-week moving average of the WLI:
This last chart depicts, on a long-term basis, the WLI, Gr.:
ECRI WLI, Gr.
_________
I post various economic indicators and indices because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not necessarily agree with what they depict or imply.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2685.19 as this post is written

misc. note – corrections of blog posts

In the July 2, 2010 post I explained my policy with regard to changing the content of posts after the day the posts have been published on the blog.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)

The St. Louis Fed’s Financial Stress Index (STLFSI) is one index that is supposed to measure stress in the financial system.  Its reading as of the December 21, 2017 update (reflecting data through December 15, 2017) is -1.527.
Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other related issues, both from the Federal Reserve as well as from private sources.
Two other indices that I regularly monitor include the Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) as well as the Chicago Fed Adjusted National Financial Conditions Index (ANFCI).
Here are summary descriptions of each, as seen in FRED:
The National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) measures risk, liquidity and leverage in money markets and debt and equity markets as well as in the traditional and “shadow” banking systems. Positive values of the NFCI indicate financial conditions that are tighter than average, while negative values indicate financial conditions that are looser than average.
The adjusted NFCI (ANFCI). This index isolates a component of financial conditions uncorrelated with economic conditions to provide an update on how financial conditions compare with current economic conditions.
For further information, please visit the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s web site:
Below are the most recently updated charts of the NFCI and ANFCI, respectively.
The NFCI chart below was last updated on December 28, 2017 incorporating data from January 8, 1971 through December 22, 2017, on a weekly basis.  The December 22, 2017 value is -.92:
NFCI_12-28-17 -.92
Data Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed December 28, 2017:
The ANFCI chart below was last updated on December 28, 2017 incorporating data from January 8,1971 through December 22, 2017, on a weekly basis.  The December 22 value is -.74:
ANFCI_12-28-17 -.74
Data Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed December 28, 2017:
_________
I post various indicators and indices because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not necessarily agree with what they depict or imply.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2683.10 as this post is written

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Consumer Confidence Surveys – As Of December 27, 2017

Doug Short had a blog post of December 27, 2017 (“Consumer Confidence Retreated in December“) in which he presents the latest Conference Board Consumer Confidence and Thomson/Reuters University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index charts.  They are presented below:
(click on charts to enlarge images)
Conference Board Consumer Confidence
Michigan Consumer Sentiment
There are a few aspects of the above charts that I find highly noteworthy.  Of course, until the sudden upswing in 2014, the continued subdued absolute levels of these two surveys was disconcerting.
Also, I find the “behavior” of these readings to be quite disparate as compared to the other post-recession periods, as shown in the charts between the gray shaded areas (the gray areas denote recessions as defined by the NBER.)
While I don’t believe that confidence surveys should be overemphasized, I find these readings to be very problematical, especially in light of a variety of other highly disconcerting measures highlighted throughout this site.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2680.75 as this post is written

Friday, December 22, 2017

The U.S. Economic Situation – December 22, 2017 Update

Perhaps the main reason that I write of our economic situation is that I continue to believe, based upon various analyses, that our economic situation is in many ways misunderstood.  While no one likes to contemplate a future rife with economic adversity, current and future economic problems must be properly recognized and rectified if high-quality, sustainable long-term economic vitality is to be realized.
There are an array of indications and other “warning signs” – many readily apparent – that current economic activity and financial market performance is accompanied by exceedingly perilous dynamics.
I have written extensively about this peril, including in the following:
Building Financial Danger” (ongoing updates)
My analyses continues to indicate that the growing level of financial danger will lead to the next stock market crash that will also involve (as seen in 2008) various other markets as well.  Key attributes of this next crash is its outsized magnitude (when viewed from an ultra-long term historical perspective) and the resulting economic impact.  This next financial crash is of tremendous concern, as my analyses indicate it will lead to a Super Depression – i.e. an economy characterized by deeply embedded, highly complex, and difficult-to-solve problems.
For long-term reference purposes, here is a chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since 1900, depicted on a monthly basis using a LOG scale (updated through December 20, 2017, with a last value of 24726.65):
(click on chart to enlarge image)(chart courtesy of StockCharts.com)
DJIA since 1900
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2684.57 as this post is written

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Money Supply Charts Through November 2017

For reference purposes, below are two sets of charts depicting growth in the money supply.
The first shows the MZM (Money Zero Maturity), defined in FRED as the following:
M2 less small-denomination time deposits plus institutional money funds.
Money Zero Maturity is calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Here is the “MZM Money Stock” (seasonally adjusted) chart, updated on December 15, 2017 depicting data through November 2017, with a value of $15,183.5 Billion:
MZMSL
Here is the “MZM Money Stock” chart on a “Percent Change From Year Ago” basis, with a current value of 4.3%:
MZMSL percent change from a year ago
ata Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed December 21, 2017:
The second set shows M2, defined in FRED as the following:
M2 includes a broader set of financial assets held principally by households. M2 consists of M1 plus: (1) savings deposits (which include money market deposit accounts, or MMDAs); (2) small-denomination time deposits (time deposits in amounts of less than $100,000); and (3) balances in retail money market mutual funds (MMMFs). Seasonally adjusted M2 is computed by summing savings deposits, small-denomination time deposits, and retail MMMFs, each seasonally adjusted separately, and adding this result to seasonally adjusted M1.
Here is the “M2 Money Stock” (seasonally adjusted) chart, updated on December 14, 2017, depicting data through November 2017, with a value of $13,785.4 Billion:
M2SL
Here is the “M2 Money Stock” chart on a “Percent Change From Year Ago” basis, with a current value of 4.7%:
M2SL Percent Change From Year Ago
Data Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed December 21, 2017:
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2684.57 as this post is written

Updates Of Economic Indicators December 2017

Here is an update of various indicators that are supposed to predict and/or depict economic activity. These indicators have been discussed in previous blog posts:
The December 2017 Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) updated as of December 21, 2017:
The CFNAI, with current reading of .15:
CFNAI_12-21-17 .15
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago Fed National Activity Index [CFNAI], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, December 21, 2017;
The CFNAI-MA3, with current reading of .41:
CFNAIMA3_12-21-17 .41
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago Fed National Activity Index: Three Month Moving Average [CFNAIMA3], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, December 21, 2017;
As of December 15, 2017 (incorporating data through December 8, 2017) the WLI was at 147.5 and the WLI, Gr. was at 3.5%.
A chart of the WLI,Gr., from Doug Short’s ECRI update post of December 15, 2017:
ECRI WLI Gr.
Here is the latest chart, depicting the ADS Index from December 31, 2007 through December 16, 2017:
ADS Index
The Conference Board Leading (LEI), Coincident (CEI) Economic Indexes, and Lagging Economic Indicator (LAG):
As per the December 21, 2017 press release, titled “The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. Increased Again” (pdf) the LEI was at 130.9, the CEI was at 116.5, and the LAG was 125.6 in November.
An excerpt from the release:
“The U.S. LEI rose again in November, suggesting that solid economic growth will continue into the first half of 2018,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Director of Business Cycles and Growth Research at The Conference Board. “In recent months, unemployment insurance claims have returned to pre-hurricane levels. In addition, improving financial indicators, new orders in manufacturing and historically high consumer sentiment have propelled the U.S. LEI even higher.”
Here is a chart of the LEI from Doug Short’s Conference Board Leading Economic Index update of December 21, 2017:
Conference Board LEI
_________
I post various indicators and indices because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not necessarily agree with what they depict or imply.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2687.63 as this post is written

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)

The St. Louis Fed’s Financial Stress Index (STLFSI) is one index that is supposed to measure stress in the financial system.  Its reading as of the December 14, 2017 update (reflecting data through December 8, 2017) is -1.546.
Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other related issues, both from the Federal Reserve as well as from private sources.
Two other indices that I regularly monitor include the Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) as well as the Chicago Fed Adjusted National Financial Conditions Index (ANFCI).
Here are summary descriptions of each, as seen in FRED:
The National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI) measures risk, liquidity and leverage in money markets and debt and equity markets as well as in the traditional and “shadow” banking systems. Positive values of the NFCI indicate financial conditions that are tighter than average, while negative values indicate financial conditions that are looser than average.
The adjusted NFCI (ANFCI). This index isolates a component of financial conditions uncorrelated with economic conditions to provide an update on how financial conditions compare with current economic conditions.
For further information, please visit the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s web site:
Below are the most recently updated charts of the NFCI and ANFCI, respectively.
The NFCI chart below was last updated on December 20, 2017 incorporating data from January 8, 1971 through December 15, 2017, on a weekly basis.  The December 15, 2017 value is -.91:
NFCI
Data Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed December 20, 2017:
The ANFCI chart below was last updated on December 20, 2017 incorporating data from January 8,1971 through December 15, 2017, on a weekly basis.  The December 15 value is -.72:
ANFCI
Data Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; accessed December 20, 2017:
_________
I post various indicators and indices because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not necessarily agree with what they depict or imply.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2679.25 as this post is written

Trends Of S&P500 Earnings Forecasts

S&P500 earnings trends and estimates are a notably important topic, for a variety of reasons, at this point in time.
FactSet publishes a report titled “Earnings Insight” that contains a variety of information including the trends and expectations of S&P500 earnings.
For reference purposes, here are two charts as seen in the “Earnings Insight” (pdf) report of December 14, 2017:
from page 22:
(click on charts to enlarge images)
S&P500 expected earnings
from page 23:
S&P500 annual earnings
_____
I post various economic forecasts because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not agree with many of the consensus estimates and much of the commentary in these forecast surveys.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2681.47 as this post is written

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

S&P500 Bottom Up EPS Forecasts Years 2017, 2018 And 2019

As many are aware, Thomson Reuters publishes earnings estimates for the S&P500.  (My other posts concerning S&P earnings estimates can be found under the S&P500 Earnings label)
The following estimates are from Exhibit 23 of the “S&P500 Earnings Scorecard” (pdf) of December 18, 2017, and represent an aggregation of individual S&P500 component “bottom up” analyst forecasts.  For reference, the Year 2014 value is $118.78/share, the Year 2015 value is $117.46, and the Year 2016 value is $118.10/share:
Year 2017 estimate:
$131.49/share
Year 2018 estimate:
$146.30/share
Year 2019 estimate:
$161.17/share
_____
I post various economic forecasts because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not agree with many of the consensus estimates and much of the commentary in these forecast surveys.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2687.83 as this post is written

Standard & Poor’s S&P500 Earnings Estimates For 2017 And 2018 – As Of December 15, 2017

As many are aware, Standard & Poor’s publishes earnings estimates for the S&P500.  (My posts concerning their estimates can be found under the S&P500 Earnings label)
For reference purposes, the most current estimates are reflected below, and are as of December 15, 2017:
Year 2017 estimates add to the following:
-From a “bottom up” perspective, operating earnings of $125.03/share
-From a “top down” perspective, operating earnings of N/A
-From a “bottom up” perspective, “as reported” earnings of $114.71/share
Year 2018 estimates add to the following:
-From a “bottom up” perspective, operating earnings of $144.54/share
-From a “top down” perspective, operating earnings of N/A
-From a “bottom up” perspective, “as reported” earnings of $134.58/share
_____
I post various economic forecasts because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not agree with many of the consensus estimates and much of the commentary in these forecast surveys.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2690.16 as this post is written

Monday, December 18, 2017

S&P500 Price Projections – Livingston Survey December 2017

The December 2017 Livingston Survey published on December 15, 2017 contains, among its various forecasts, a S&P500 forecast.  It shows the following price forecast for the dates shown:
Dec. 30, 2017  2644.8
Jun. 30, 2018   2739.8
Dec. 29, 2018  2805.0
Dec. 31, 2019  2980.0
These figures represent the median value across the forecasters on the survey’s panel.
_____
I post various economic forecasts because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not agree with many of the consensus estimates and much of the commentary in these forecast surveys.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2675.81 as this post is written

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Deflation Probabilities – December 14, 2017 Update

While I do not agree with the current readings of the measure – I think the measure dramatically understates the probability of deflation, as measured by the CPI – the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta maintains an interesting data series titled “Deflation Probabilities.”
As stated on the site:
Using estimates derived from Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) markets, described in a technical appendix, this weekly report provides two measures of the probability of consumer price index (CPI) deflation through 2022.
A chart shows the trends of the probabilities.  As one can see in the chart, the readings are volatile.
As for the current weekly reading, the December 14, 2017 update states the following:
The 2017–22 deflation probability was 0.2 percent on December 13, down from 4 percent on December 6. The 2016–21 deflation probability was 0.0 percent on December 13, unchanged from December 6. These deflation probabilities, measuring the likelihoods of net declines in the consumer price index over the five-year periods starting in early 2016 and early 2017, are estimated from prices of the five-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) issued in April 2016 and April 2017 and the 10-year TIPS issued in July 2011 and July 2012.
_________
I post various economic indicators and indices because I believe they should be carefully monitored.  However, as those familiar with this site are aware, I do not necessarily agree with what they depict or imply.
_____
The Special Note summarizes my overall thoughts about our economic situation
SPX at 2659.38 this post is written