MARKET WEEK: JULY 30, 2018

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Last Week’s Economic Headlines

• The advance estimate for the second-quarter gross domestic product projected economic growth at 4.1%. In the first quarter, the GDP increased 2.2%. Consumer spending (+4.1%) drove much of the estimated growth in the second quarter. Current dollar GDP grew 7.4% (4.3% in the first quarter). The price index for gross domestic purchases expanded 2.3%, compared with an increase of 2.5% in the first quarter. Disposable personal income increased $167.5 billion, or 4.5%, in the second quarter, compared with an increase of $256.7 billion, or 7.0%, in the first quarter. It is important to note that this advanced report is based on source data that is incomplete or subject to further revision, which will be noted in the next two reports in August and September.

• Sales of existing homes continued to slow in June. Sales declined 0.6% for the month following decreases in both April and May. Existing home sales are now 2.2% below their rate from a year ago. Single-family home sales fell 0.6% and are 2.3% below their sales pace of a year ago. According to the National Association of Realtors®, a severe housing shortage is keeping homes moving off the market at a quick clip while driving prices higher. The median existing-home price for all housing types in June was $276,900, surpassing last month as the new all-time high, and up 5.2% from June 2017 ($263,300). The median existing single-family home price was $279,300 in June, up 5.2% from June 2017. Total housing inventory climbed 4.3% in June and is up 0.5% from a year ago. Unsold inventory is at a 4.3-month supply at current prices.

• Sales of new single-family homes also dipped in June, falling 5.3% below their May pace. Nevertheless, new home sales are still up 2.4% over their June 2017 estimate. The median sales price of new houses sold in June was $302,100. The average sales price was $363,300. The estimate of new houses for sale at the end of June was 301,000. This represents a supply of 5.7 months at the current sales rate.

• Orders for long-lasting goods increased 1.0% in June following two consecutive monthly decreases. Transportation drove much of the gain last month. Excluding transportation, durable goods orders rose a moderate 0.4%. Shipments of durable goods escalated 1.7% in June as did unfilled orders, which increased 0.4%. Inventories fell for the second consecutive month, dropping 0.1%.

• The goods trade deficit was $68.3 billion in June, up $3.6 billion, or 5.5%, from May. Exports dropped $2.2 billion for the month, while imports increased $1.3 billion.

• In the week ended July 21, there were 217,000 initial claims for unemployment insurance, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised up 1,000. The advance rate for insured unemployment claims remained at 1.2%. The advance number of those receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the week ended July 14 was 1,745,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the prior week’s level, which was revised up by 2,000.

Eye on the Week Ahead

The last few days of July into August is a period that includes several important economic events. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets for the first time since the second week of June when the Committee voted to increased interest rates by 25 basis points. Will the FOMC be influenced by President Trump’s appeal to refrain from another rate hike this summer? Employment figures for July are also available next week. There were 213,000 new jobs added in June; wages, meanwhile, increased by an average of only 0.2% for the month, but are up 2.7% over the past 12 months.

Data sources: News items are based on reports from multiple commonly available international news sources (i.e. wire services) and are independently verified when necessary with secondary sources such as government agencies, corporate press releases, or trade organizations. Market data: Based on data reported in WSJ Market Data Center (indexes); U.S. Treasury (Treasury yields); U.S. Energy Information Administration/Bloomberg.com Market Data (oil spot price, WTI Cushing, OK); www.goldprice.org (spot gold/silver); Oanda/FX Street (currency exchange rates). All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, and should not be relied on as financial advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.

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