MARKET WATCH: May 3, 2021

Stock Market Indexes

Chart reflects price changes, not total return. Because it does not include dividends or splits, it should not be used to benchmark performance of specific investments.

Last Week’s Economic News

• Following its meeting last week, the Federal Open Market Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 0.00%-0.25%. The Committee indicated that it expects to maintain this target range until labor market conditions have reached maximum employment and inflation has risen to 2.0% and is on track to moderately exceed 2.0% for some time with the objective that inflation averages 2.0% over time. In addition, the Federal Reserve will continue to increase its holdings of Treasury securities by at least $80 billion per month and of agency mortgage-backed securities by at least $40 billion per month until substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee’s maximum employment and price stability goals. It is worth noting that the Committee would be amenable to adjusting its current monetary stance if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee’s stated goals of maximum employment and inflation averaging at least 2.0% over the longer term.

• According to the latest report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, gross domestic product increased 6.4% in the first quarter of 2021. This initial estimate is based on data that is incomplete and likely to be revised in the second and third estimates to follow in May and June. Nevertheless, the estimate of first-quarter economic growth exceeds the fourth quarter 2020 rate of 4.3%. The increase in first quarter GDP reflected the continued economic recovery, reopening of establishments, and continued government response related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter, government assistance payments, such as direct economic impact payments, expanded unemployment benefits, and Paycheck Protection Program loans, were distributed to households and businesses. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, the first-quarter GDP saw a 10.7% increase in personal consumption expenditures, a 41.4% jump in nondurable goods, and a 23.6% rise in durable goods.

• In March, personal income increased 21.1% and disposable personal income rose 23.6% — both figures impacted by increased employment and stimulus payments. Consumer spending, as measured by personal consumption expenditures, advanced 4.2% in March. Consumer prices increased 0.5%. Prices, less energy and food, climbed 0.4%. Over the 12 months ended in March, prices for consumer goods and services have risen 2.3%, personal income has risen 6.1%, disposable personal income has climbed 7.0%, while personal consumption expenditures have fallen 2.7%.

• According to the latest report from the Census Bureau, new orders for durable goods increased 0.5% in March and are up 10.9% since March 2020. Excluding transportation, new orders rose 1.6%. Excluding defense, new orders advanced 0.5%. In March, shipments of durable goods climbed 2.5%, unfilled orders increased 0.4%, and inventories rose 1.0%. March saw new orders for capital goods drop 3.5%, pulled lower by new orders for nondefense capital goods, which fell 4.7%. New orders for defense capital goods increased 3.8%.

• The international trade deficit was $90.6 billion in March, up $3.5 billion, or 4.0%, from February. Exports of goods for March were $142.0 billion, $11.4 billion, or 8.7%, more than February exports. Imports of goods for March were $232.6 billion, $14.9 billion, or 6.8%, more than February imports. Over the last 12 months ended in March, exports have increased 11.5%, while imports have advanced 20.6%.

• Jobless claims continue to ease as the employment sector slowly recovers from the impact of the pandemic. For the week ended April 24, there were 553,000 new claims for unemployment insurance, a decrease of 13,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised up by 19,000. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020, when it was 256,000. According to the Department of Labor, the advance rate for insured unemployment claims was 2.6% for the week ended April 17, unchanged from the previous week’s rate. For comparison, during the same period last year, there were 3,451,000 initial claims for unemployment insurance, and the insured unemployment claims rate rose to 12.1% as the effects of the pandemic continued to impact the labor market. The advance number of those receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the week ended April 17 was 3,660,000, an increase of 9,000 from the prior week’s level, which was revised down by 23,000. States and territories with the highest insured unemployment rates in the week ended April 10 were in Nevada (5.9%), Connecticut (5.3%), Alaska (4.9%), New York (4.6%), Illinois (4.3%), Vermont (4.1%), Rhode Island (4.0%), Pennsylvania (3.9%), the District of Columbia (3.7%), and New Mexico (3.7%). The largest increases in initial claims for the week ended April 17 were in Virginia (+8,717), Michigan (+6,300), Indiana (+4,484), Utah (+4,060), and California (+3,417), while the largest decreases were in Texas (-20,036), New York (-16,840), Georgia (-6,001), Florida (-5,564), and Washington (-4,031).

Eye on the Week Ahead

Economic reports out the first week of May focus on manufacturing and employment. The manufacturing sector continued to advance in March and should maintain that trend in April. March saw an impressive 916,000 new jobs added. Some economists are predicting that the new hires in April will exceed 500,000 — a clear sign that businesses are recovering from the effects of the pandemic.

Data sources: Economic: Based on data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment, inflation); U.S. Department of Commerce (GDP, corporate profits, retail sales, housing); S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index (home prices); Institute for Supply Management (manufacturing/services). Performance: 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). 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. 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. Forecasts are based on current conditions, subject to change, and may not come to pass. U.S. Treasury securities are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. The principal value of Treasury securities and other bonds fluctuates with market conditions. Bonds are subject to inflation, interest-rate, and credit risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices typically fall. A bond sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss. 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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