Month: September 2015

by Peter Rupert

The moment of truth concerning liftoff is upon us as the FOMC makes their decision and delivers their verdict tomorrow. With the release of the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and the previous employment report, it appears the labor market is firing on many, if not all, cylinders. The JOLTS data reveal both the highest level (about 5.7 million vacancies) and rate (3.9%) of job openings since the series began in December of 2000.

The unemployment rate is also quite low and the Beveridge Curve (a plot of vacancies vs. unemployment) is now looking much healthier after its typical counter-clockwise journey. Many of the previous statements from the meetings suggested that there was still some slack in the labor market, but it was dissipating. With vacancies as high as ever it appears that businesses are in hiring mode big time…but, inflation is not in sight.

So, the question is: When is the right time? Financial markets are volatile for sure; however, to what extent has Fed policy fed into the volatility? The rest of the world has its problems, but many areas will continue to be problematic for some time to come, see our commentary here.

If the FOMC does not raise rates today, here is what they will likely say: “While labor markets appear to have reduced slack, there is little evidence of inflation. The rest of the world is still in turmoil.” And if they do raise rates, “Labor markets have continued to recover and are now near levels thought to be in the target range. While global markets are still somewhat fragile, the evidence in the US suggests that the current stance of policy is not in line with normal policy.”

by Tom Cooley and Peter Rupert

The Bureau of Labor Statistics establishment survey for August revealed a somewhat expected, yet somewhat disappointing, 173,000 employment increase. Upward revisions totaling 44,000 over the past couple of months took some of the edge off of the disappointment. Private employment posted only a 140,000 gain, however, and government continued to climb, up 33,000. Goods producing declined by 24,000, with manufacturing down 17,000 and mining and logging down 10,000. Given the tendency for the August numbers to be revised upwards this report is in keeping with previous months and is not likely a sign of weakness in the economy.

Hours and Wages:

The average workweek ticked up to 34.6 after three consecutive months at 34.5. Average hourly earnings were also up slightly.

Participation:

From the household survey, the number of unemployed fell by 237,000; however, the labor force was also down, 41,000, leading to a decline in the unemployment rate to 5.1% and no change in the labor force participation rate at 62.6. This is really the major conundrum for the U.S. economy. Labor force participation is at a forty year low. The employment to population ratio has picked up slightly but not anywhere near enough to reverse the precipitous drop during the Great Recession.  The low participation rates suggest there are many workers who have been effectively disenfranchised by the Great Recession which continues to cast its long shadow over the economy.  But these are now structural issues not cyclical ones.

The number of people unemployed less than 5 weeks fell by 393,000 while the number unemployed 27 weeks or more rose 7,000; again showing that the issues seem more structural than cyclical.