Brent Nyitray
Fairlington Blade
Let the mutherfuker burn!
jnc4p
Kevin S. Willis
Michigoose
lmsinca
markinaustin
Memetrics
novahockey
quarterback
ScottC
yellojktVital Statistics:
| Last | Change | |
| S&P futures | 4,802 | 17.2 |
| Oil (WTI) | 76.99 | 0.91 |
| 10 year government bond yield | 1.68% | |
| 30 year fixed rate mortgage | 3.41% |
Stocks are higher this morning despite the backup in rates. Bonds and MBS are down.
Is inflation beginning to moderate? According to the latest ISM Manufacturing Index, prices paid fell from a net 84.2% to 68.2%. This is a survey-driven number, so accept it for what it is however this is at least the first indication that supply chain issues are beginning to ease up. Demand is still strong, which is a good sign, and employment rose as well.
Job openings decreased to 10.6 million in November, according to the JOLTS jobs report. Most of the decrease was in the leisure and hospitality sector. The quits rate increased to 3%, which matched the series high set last September. The quits rate is a good predictor of future wage inflation.
The Fed is looking at balance sheet reduction as another way to combat rising inflation. Prior to the pandemic, the Fed tried to reduce its holdings of Treasuries and mortgage backed securities, however it found that the economy was too weak to withstand it. Inflation was running below the Fed’s 2% target, and the central bank was worried about the economy slipping into disinflation, if not outright deflation.
The situation today is much different. Inflation is running above the Fed’s target, and the labor market is much stronger. In mid-December, Jerome Powell said: “This is just a different situation, and those differences should inform the decisions we make about the balance sheet at this time.”
Strategists are lobbing in their forecasts for rates next year. Bankrate sees the 30 year mortgage rate hitting 3.75% next year before falling to 3.5%. The MBA sees the 30 year fixed rate hitting 4%. Everyone agrees that 2022 will be a purchase-driven market as rate / term refi activity dries up.
Home price appreciation hit 18.1% in November, according to CoreLogic. Lower-priced homes are seeing the fastest appreciation. Arizona, Florida and Idaho all experience 25%+ growth. Separately, affordability has fallen below historical average, according to ATTOM. Home ownership costs on the typical home constituted 25.2% of the average wage in the fourth quarter, up from 24.4% in Q3 and 24.1% last year. That said, the labor market is tight and wages are rising.
Filed under: Economy |
All Things in Moderation 
If you’re needing a good laugh.
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2022/1/4/2072629/-Forget-the-Jan-6-coup-plotters-who-won-t-talk-Plenty-of-insiders-are-talking
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i don’t know how the left is going to manage to keep up the momentum for another two days. I think they are peaking early.
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I feel like they leaked early on this months ago. Everything else is just piling on.
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I’m trying to imagine the reaction if he runs and gets elected again in 2024 given the level that they are at now.
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They’re already laying the groundwork that a Trump win will mean he’s stolen the election.
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Didn’t even crack a smile. But I didn’t find the Jim Jones cult funny either.
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Someone else read the Politico piece that Brent linked a little while ago:
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Inflation-adjusted interest rates are deeply negative right now. I don’t think we have ever seen a situation like this in history. Central banks really haven’t been around that long.
Interest rates are managed in a Soviet-like fashion. If the Fed can stick the landing, we will be ok. If not….
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Love the responses to this.
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thats different cause reasons
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That there are people who still believe in the whole Russian collusion hoax is staggering to me.
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Twitter remains a cesspool of morons. Primarily.
There’s always a non-sequitur to deflect from the fact they mostly do and say all the things they are enraged at “the other side” for doing.
That so many people think every election they lose is stolen is a problem. But, nah, no reason to talk about that.
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