Tom Moeller

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041208b.jpg" width="353">
The Job Openings &amp; Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that through October, the job openings rate rose to 2.5% in October versus a monthly low of 2.0% in August 2003. The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings.
The number of job openings in October rose to 3.330 million, up 18.0% y/y.
The latest hires rate rose to 3.3% versus a low of 3.0% during the spring of 2003. The hires rate is the number of hires during the month divided by employment.
The survey dates only to December 2000 but has since followed the movement in nonfarm payrolls.
Job separations rose to 4.159 million (+7.8% y/y) and the separation rate was unchanged at 3.2%, up from 3.0% last October. Total separations include quits, layoffs, discharges, and other separations including retirements. The total separations, or turnover, rate is the total number of separations during the month divided by employment.
From the U.S. Department of Labor, a description of the Jolts survey and the latest release is available <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm"> here</a>.

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<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/USECON/@EB/@EB14/@EB14.HTM">JOLTS</a> (Job Openings &amp; Labor Turnover Survey)</th>
<th scope="col">Oct</th>
<th scope="col">Sept</th>
<th scope="col">Oct &#39;03</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Job Openings Rate: Total</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
<td>2.2%</td>
<td>2.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Hires Rate: Total</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
<td>3.1%</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
<td>3.5%</td>
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</tbody>
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The Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that through October, the job openings rate rose to 2.5% in October versus a monthly low of 2.0% in August 2003. The job openings rate is [...]

JOLTS: Job Openings & Hires Up in the US

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041208b.jpg" width="353">
The Job Openings &amp; Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that through October, the job openings rate rose to 2.5% in October versus a monthly low of 2.0% in August 2003. The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings.
The number of job openings in October rose to 3.330 million, up 18.0% y/y.
The latest hires rate rose to 3.3% versus a low of 3.0% during the spring of 2003. The hires rate is the number of hires during the month divided by employment.
The survey dates only to December 2000 but has since followed the movement in nonfarm payrolls.
Job separations rose to 4.159 million (+7.8% y/y) and the separation rate was unchanged at 3.2%, up from 3.0% last October. Total separations include quits, layoffs, discharges, and other separations including retirements. The total separations, or turnover, rate is the total number of separations during the month divided by employment.
From the U.S. Department of Labor, a description of the Jolts survey and the latest release is available <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm"> here</a>.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
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<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/USECON/@EB/@EB14/@EB14.HTM">JOLTS</a> (Job Openings &amp; Labor Turnover Survey)</th>
<th scope="col">Oct</th>
<th scope="col">Sept</th>
<th scope="col">Oct &#39;03</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
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<td class="firstcol">Job Openings Rate: Total</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
<td>2.2%</td>
<td>2.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Hires Rate: Total</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
<td>3.1%</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
<td>3.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Mortgage Applications Bounce Up 
by <a href="/comment/Moeller.html">Tom Moeller</a> December 8, 2004


<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041208a.jpg" width="353">
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Survey, mortgage applications rose 3.4% last week following declines during November that, by the end of the month, had pulled the total market index down 11.6%.
Purchase applications rose 6.6% following several weeks of decline that lowered the month-end level 7.3% versus October. During the last ten years there has been a 59% correlation between the y/y change in purchase applications and the change in new plus existing home sales.
Applications to refinance added 1.1% to November declines that totaled 17.0%.
The effective interest rate on a conventional 30-year mortgage fell to 5.94% and averaged 5.97% last month versus 5.92% in October. The effective rate on a 15-year mortgage also fell to 5.40% versus 5.42% averaged in November.
The Mortgage Bankers Association surveys between 20 to 35 of the top lenders in the U.S. housing industry to derive its refinance, purchase and market indexes. The weekly survey accounts for more than 40% of all applications processed each week by mortgage lenders. Visit the Mortgage Bankers Association site <a href="http://www.mbaa.org">here</a>.
&quot;Perfecting Housing Finance&quot; from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is available <a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/mt/20041101/cover.pdf"> here</a>.

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<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/SURVEYW/@S5/@S5.HTM">MBA Mortgage Applications (3/16/90=100)</a></th>
<th scope="col">12/03/04</th>
<th scope="col">11/26/04</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Total Market Index</td>
<td>696.2</td>
<td>673.3</td>
<td>15.7%</td>
<td>1,067.9</td>
<td>799.7</td>
<td>625.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Purchase</td>
<td>490.9</td>
<td>460.3</td>
<td>22.8%</td>
<td>395.1</td>
<td>354.7</td>
<td>304.9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Refinancing</td>
<td>1,890.6</td>
<td>1,912.3</td>
<td>6.5%</td>
<td>4,981.8</td>
<td>3,388.0</td>
<td>2,491.0</td>
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Louise Curley

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207d.jpg" width="353">
Institutional investors and analysts in Germany have become slightly less pessimistic. The December ZEW indicator showed that the balance of optimists over pessimists was 14.4%, 0.5 percentage points above November, The increase is hardly significant. The best interpretation may be to say that confidence has stopped declining.
The balance of optimists over pessimists remains well below the long run average of 34.5%. Moreover, the balance is 59 points below its December 2003 value. The recent peak in the balance was 48.4% in July. The indicator has been trending down since then with ever increasing differences from a year ago, as can be seen in the first chart.<img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207e.jpg" width="353">
The decline in confidence has been attributed, in large part, to the increases in oil prices and in the euro. The weekly value of the euro in terms of the dollar and the weekly price (dollars per gallon) of Brent Crude oil for the past two years are shown in the second chart. Both have risen relentlessly since the beginning of this year through October. The euro has since continued to climb, but the price of oil dipped 14% from the last week in October to the last week in November and may have contributed to the slight increase of optimists over pessimists in the December ZEW survey of institutional investors and analysts.

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<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
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<th scope="col" class="firstcol">&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">Dec 04</th>
<th scope="col">Nov 04</th>
<th scope="col">Oct&nbsp;04</th>
<th scope="col">Sep 04</th>
<th scope="col">Aug 04</th>
<th scope="col">Jul 04&nbsp;&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">Jun 04&nbsp;</th>
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<td class="firstcol">ZEW (Percent balance)</td>
<td>14.4</td>
<td>13.9</td>
<td>31.3</td>
<td>38.4</td>
<td>45.3</td>
<td>48.4</td>
<td>47.4</td>
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<tr>
<td class="firstcol">% Points change from Year Ago</td>
<td>-59</td>
<td>-53</td>
<td>-29</td>
<td>-22.5</td>
<td>-7.2</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>26.1</td>
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<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Price as of last week in</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Nov 04</td>
<td>Oct&nbsp;04</td>
<td>Sep 04</td>
<td>Aug 04</td>
<td>Jul 04&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>Jun 04&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Brent Crude Oil ($</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>44.04</td>
<td>51.43</td>
<td>47.09</td>
<td>39.75</td>
<td>40.09</td>
<td>34.62</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Dollar/euro</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>1.3147&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>1.2754</td>
<td>1.2250</td>
<td>1.2099</td>
<td>1.2068</td>
<td>1.21221</td>
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Institutional investors and analysts in Germany have become slightly less pessimistic. The December ZEW indicator showed that the balance of optimists over pessimists was 14.4%, 0.5 percentage points above November, The increase is [...]

German Investor Confidence Stops Falling After Four Months of Decline

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207f.jpg" width="353">
Job cut announcements reported in November rose 2.6% from October and 5.1% from a year ago according to Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas. The monthly tally of 104,530 pulled the three month moving average of job cut announcements to 104,744 (-9.7% y/y), the highest this year.
During the last ten years there has been an 86% (inverse) correlation between the three month moving average of announced job cuts and the three month change payroll employment.
Job cut announcements differ from layoffs. Many are achieved through attrition, early retirement or just never occur.
Job cut announcements in the automotive industry more than doubled and rose 10 fold in E-Commerce &amp; Dot com to the highest level since January 2003. Government layoffs also surged and layoffs rose in insurance, electronics, services, telecommunication, transportation and energy.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
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<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/SURVEYS/@S3/@S301/@S301.HTM">Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas</a></th>
<th scope="col">Nov</th>
<th scope="col">Oct</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Announced Job Cuts</td>
<td>104,530</td>
<td>101,840</td>
<td>5.1%</td>
<td>1,236,426</td>
<td>1,431,052</td>
<td>1,956,876</td>
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Job cut announcements reported in November rose 2.6% from October and 5.1% from a year ago according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The monthly tally of 104,530 pulled the three month moving average of job cut announcements to [...]

Challenger Layoff Count Rose Further

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207c.jpg" width="353">
Chain store sales following Thanksgiving week slumped another 1.7% on top of the 1.5% skid during the Holiday period, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS.
The decline pulled November sales just 0.1% ahead of October and sales began December down 2.5% m/m.
The leading indicator of chain store sales from ICSC fell by 0.5% in the latest week for the third time in the last four periods.
During the last ten years there has been a 60% correlation between y/y change in chain store sales and the change in non-auto retail sales less gasoline.
The ICSC-UBS retail chain-store sales index is constructed using the same-store sales reported by 78 stores of seven retailers: Dayton Hudson, Federated, Kmart, May, J.C. Penney, Sears and Wal-Mart.

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<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/surveyw/@S2/@S2.HTM">ICSC-UBS (SA, 1977=100)</a></th>
<th scope="col">12/04/04</th>
<th scope="col">11/27/04</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Total Weekly Chain Store Sales</td>
<td>425.6</td>
<td>432.9</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
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Chain store sales following Thanksgiving week slumped another 1.7% on top of the 1.5% skid during the Holiday period, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS. The decline pulled November sales just 0.1% [...]

Chain Store Sales Slumped Further

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207a.jpg" width="353">
Non-farm labor productivity growth last quarter was little revised at 1.8% and about matched Consensus expectations for 2.0% growth.
Growth in hours worked by all persons (employment times hours) was revised up to 2.4% (1.5% y/y) from 2.1% but output growth also was revised up to 4.2% (4.7% y/y), the same as in 2Q.
Unit labor costs grew 1.8% as compensation growth was left unchanged at 3.6% (4.0% y/y).
Productivity in the manufacturing sector was revised up to 4.6% (4.7% y/y) from 4.3%. Unit labor cost growth in the factory sector was revised down slightly to no change (-1.5% y/y).<img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207b.jpg" width="353">
In the nonfinancial corporate sector productivity growth accelerated to 4.2% (3.1% y/y) from 3.3% in 2Q. This is the first release of figures for 3Q. Output, a figure derived from the income side of the National Income &amp; Product Accounts, grew at a 5.6% (4.8% y/y) rate versus 4.2% growth in 2Q. Hours worked grew at a 1.3% rate (1.7% y/y).
During the last ten years there has been an 86% (inverse) correlation between y/y growth in unit labor costs in the nonfinancial corporate sector and profit growth.
From The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is <a href="http://www.chicagofed.org/publications/economicperspectives/ep_1qtr2004_part4_fernald_ramnath.pdf"> this</a> paper titled &quot;The acceleration in U.S. total factor productivity after 1995: The role of information technology.&quot;

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
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<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/USECON/@EC/@EC02/@EC02.HTM">Non-farm Business Sector</a> (SAAR)</th>
<th scope="col">3Q &#39;04 (Revised)</th>
<th scope="col">3Q &#39;04 (Prelim.)</th>
<th scope="col">2Q &#39;04</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
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<td class="firstcol">Output per Hour</td>
<td>1.8%</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>3.9%</td>
<td>3.1%</td>
<td>4.4%</td>
<td>4.4%</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Compensation</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>5.9%</td>
<td>4.0%</td>
<td>4.1%</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>4.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Unit Labor Costs</td>
<td>1.8%</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
<td>-1.1%</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
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Non-farm labor productivity growth last quarter was little revised at 1.8% and about matched Consensus expectations for 2.0% growth. Growth in hours worked by all persons (employment times hours) was revised up to 2.4% (1.5% y/y) from [...]

U.S. Productivity Growth Little Revised for 3Q

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207a.jpg" width="353">
Non-farm labor productivity growth last quarter was little revised at 1.8% and about matched Consensus expectations for 2.0% growth.
Growth in hours worked by all persons (employment times hours) was revised up to 2.4% (1.5% y/y) from 2.1% but output growth also was revised up to 4.2% (4.7% y/y), the same as in 2Q.
Unit labor costs grew 1.8% as compensation growth was left unchanged at 3.6% (4.0% y/y).
Productivity in the manufacturing sector was revised up to 4.6% (4.7% y/y) from 4.3%. Unit labor cost growth in the factory sector was revised down slightly to no change (-1.5% y/y).<img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207b.jpg" width="353">
In the nonfinancial corporate sector productivity growth accelerated to 4.2% (3.1% y/y) from 3.3% in 2Q. This is the first release of figures for 3Q. Output, a figure derived from the income side of the National Income &amp; Product Accounts, grew at a 5.6% (4.8% y/y) rate versus 4.2% growth in 2Q. Hours worked grew at a 1.3% rate (1.7% y/y).
During the last ten years there has been an 86% (inverse) correlation between y/y growth in unit labor costs in the nonfinancial corporate sector and profit growth.
From The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is <a href="http://www.chicagofed.org/publications/economicperspectives/ep_1qtr2004_part4_fernald_ramnath.pdf"> this</a> paper titled &quot;The acceleration in U.S. total factor productivity after 1995: The role of information technology.&quot;

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<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/USECON/@EC/@EC02/@EC02.HTM">Non-farm Business Sector</a> (SAAR)</th>
<th scope="col">3Q &#39;04 (Revised)</th>
<th scope="col">3Q &#39;04 (Prelim.)</th>
<th scope="col">2Q &#39;04</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Output per Hour</td>
<td>1.8%</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>3.9%</td>
<td>3.1%</td>
<td>4.4%</td>
<td>4.4%</td>
<td>2.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Compensation</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>5.9%</td>
<td>4.0%</td>
<td>4.1%</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>4.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Unit Labor Costs</td>
<td>1.8%</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
<td>-1.1%</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Chain Store Sales Slumped Further 
by <a href="/comment/Moeller.html">Tom Moeller</a> December 7, 2004


<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207c.jpg" width="353">
Chain store sales following Thanksgiving week slumped another 1.7% on top of the 1.5% skid during the Holiday period, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS.
The decline pulled November sales just 0.1% ahead of October and sales began December down 2.5% m/m.
The leading indicator of chain store sales from ICSC fell by 0.5% in the latest week for the third time in the last four periods.
During the last ten years there has been a 60% correlation between y/y change in chain store sales and the change in non-auto retail sales less gasoline.
The ICSC-UBS retail chain-store sales index is constructed using the same-store sales reported by 78 stores of seven retailers: Dayton Hudson, Federated, Kmart, May, J.C. Penney, Sears and Wal-Mart.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/surveyw/@S2/@S2.HTM">ICSC-UBS (SA, 1977=100)</a></th>
<th scope="col">12/04/04</th>
<th scope="col">11/27/04</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Total Weekly Chain Store Sales</td>
<td>425.6</td>
<td>432.9</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Challenger Layoff Count Rose Further 
by <a href="/comment/Moeller.html">Tom Moeller</a> December 7, 2004


<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041207f.jpg" width="353">
Job cut announcements reported in November rose 2.6% from October and 5.1% from a year ago according to Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas. The monthly tally of 104,530 pulled the three month moving average of job cut announcements to 104,744 (-9.7% y/y), the highest this year.
During the last ten years there has been an 86% (inverse) correlation between the three month moving average of announced job cuts and the three month change payroll employment.
Job cut announcements differ from layoffs. Many are achieved through attrition, early retirement or just never occur.
Job cut announcements in the automotive industry more than doubled and rose 10 fold in E-Commerce &amp; Dot com to the highest level since January 2003. Government layoffs also surged and layoffs rose in insurance, electronics, services, telecommunication, transportation and energy.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol"><a href="http://www.haverselect.com/dlx/SURVEYS/@S3/@S301/@S301.HTM">Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas</a></th>
<th scope="col">Nov</th>
<th scope="col">Oct</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2003</th>
<th scope="col">2002</th>
<th scope="col">2001</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Announced Job Cuts</td>
<td>104,530</td>
<td>101,840</td>
<td>5.1%</td>
<td>1,236,426</td>
<td>1,431,052</td>
<td>1,956,876</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
</html>

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041206b.jpg" width="353">
German data on new orders and sales are reported only in index form. The index of the volume of German new orders for manufacturing increased 1.09% in October from September, after a 0.78% rise in September. A decline of 1.23% in foreign orders, due, no doubt, to the rising euro, was offset by a 3.29% rise in domestic orders. .The order data reported for East and West Germany show that new orders in East Germany continue to show better growth than in West Germany, however, there are no data on the actual levels of orders. It is safe to assume that the levels in East Germany are still well below those in the West.<img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/041206c.jpg" width="353">. Indexes for the volume of total manufacturing sales are available only on a non seasonally adjusted basis. Since month-to-month changes tend to be erratic, year-over-year changes are more meaningful. Total manufacturing sales in October were 1.89% above October 2003. Domestic sales were flat and foreign sales were up 4.46% over a year ago.
The order data suggest an improvement in domestic sales and a weakening in foreign sales as shown in the two attached charts..

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol">2000 Prices, 2000=100 SA except where noted</th>
<th scope="col">Oct 04</th>
<th scope="col">Sep 04</th>
<th scope="col">Oct 03</th>
<th scope="col">M/M %&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y %&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">&nbsp;2003&nbsp;&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">&nbsp;2002&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">&nbsp; 2001&nbsp; &nbsp;</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Manufacturing New Orders&nbsp;</td>
<td>103.9</td>
<td>102.8</td>
<td>100.1</td>
<td>1.07</td>
<td>3.80</td>
<td>97.8</td>
<td>97.2</td>
<td>97.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;&nbsp; Domestic</td>
<td>97.3</td>
<td>94.2</td>
<td>96.0</td>
<td>3.29</td>
<td>1.35</td>
<td>93.4</td>
<td>93.5</td>
<td>96.7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;&nbsp; Foreign</td>
<td>112.2</td>
<td>113.5</td>
<td>105.3</td>
<td>-1.23</td>
<td>6.56</td>
<td>103.3</td>
<td>101.9</td>
<td>98.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;&nbsp; West Germany</td>
<td>102.1</td>
<td>101.0</td>
<td>98.5</td>
<td>1.09</td>
<td>3.65</td>
<td>96.4</td>
<td>96.3</td>
<td>96.9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; East Germany</td>
<td>128.5</td>
<td>127.0</td>
<td>123.3</td>
<td>1.18</td>
<td>4.22</td>
<td>117.0</td>
<td>110.0</td>
<td>104.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Manufacturing Sales NSA</td>
<td>107.6</td>
<td>112.1</td>
<td>105.6</td>
<td>-4.01</td>
<td>1.89</td>
<td>98.7</td>
<td>99.1</td>
<td>100.9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;&nbsp; Domestic NSA</td>
<td>101.8</td>
<td>105.2</td>
<td>101.8</td>
<td>-3.29</td>
<td>0.00</td>
<td>94.8</td>
<td>95.9</td>
<td>99.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;&nbsp; Foreign NSA</td>
<td>114.3</td>
<td>123.8</td>
<td>112.1</td>
<td>-5.25</td>
<td>4.46</td>
<td>105.3</td>
<td>104.5</td>
<td>103.3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
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German data on new orders and sales are reported only in index form. The index of the volume of German new orders for manufacturing increased 1.09% in October from September, after a 0.78% rise in September. A decline of 1.23% in [...]

German New Orders for Manufacturing Increase in October but Sales Lag

USD/EUR exchange rate uncoupling from interest rate differential

Widespread downgrading of 2025 GDP outlook

Trade and fiscal policy uncertainty has exploded with the new administration

Much lower US electricity costs gives it a competitive advantage

Wage growth slowing in the US and Euro area; elevated and sticky in the UK

Stagflation-lite: Blue Chip forecasts below-trend growth and elevated inflation

US policy gyrations boosting policy uncertainty worldwide

Expected tariff hikes have boosted inflation expectations

US and Japan ended 2024 on solid ground in contrast to Europe

US economy expected to outperform other major economies in 2025

Only modest evidence of AI-related surge in US productivity growth

Previous Trump tariffs fading. A boost from new tariffs ahead?

Heavy US manufacturing states underperforming while Sun Belt states outperforming

Rising long-term yields a global phenomenon

US financial market concerns shifting from growth to inflation

Economic activity is picking up in the US but remains lackluster abroad

Policy uncertainty has surged since the US national elections.

Recent turnaround in US economic surprises leading to increases in rate-cut expectations

The outlook has brightened in the US, while it has dimmed for other major economies

Headline US PCE inflation elevated by sticky services prices

US and global equity prices have recently diverged

US leading global upturn in economic surprises

Blue Chip forecasters look for further significant monetary easing apart from Japan

Recent rise in global supply chain pressures could augur a pickup in global inflation pressures

Underperforming German economy generating increased policy uncertainty relative to Europe and the US

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Nonfarm payrolls increased 177,000 (1.2% y/y) during April after rising 185,000 in March, revised from 228,000, and 102,000 in February, revised from 117,000. Expectations had been for a 130,000 rise in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The latest figure left the three-month average change at 155,000 in April, down from 232,000 in January.

Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% during April after unrevised increases of 0.3% in March and 0.2% in February. Earnings growth of 3.8% y/y was below the 5.9% high in March 2022.

The unemployment rate, measured in the household survey, held m/m at an expected 4.2% in April, and compared to 4.1% in February and 4.0% in January. It reached a low of 3.4% in April 2023. The unemployment rate, including employees working part-time for economic reasons plus all marginally-attached workers, eased to 7.8% in April from 7.9% in March.

In the **establishment survey**, private-sector employment rose 167,000 (1.2% y/y) after a 170,000 March increase. Factory sector jobs edged 1,000 lower (-0.7% y/y) following a 3,000 gain. Construction sector employment increased 11,000 (1.7% y/y), after rising 7,000 in March.

Private service-producing sector employment increased 156,000 (1.4% y/y) in April after improving 161,000 in March. Increases varied greatly amongst service sector categories. Private education & health sector employment rose 70,000 (3.4% y/y) last month following a 74,000 March increase. Leisure & hospitality employment rose 24,000 (1.3% y/y) after a 38,000 gain. Trade, transportation & utilities rose 32,000 (0.9% y/y) in April following a 25,000 March increase. Professional & business services employment rose 17,000 (-0.1% y/y) following a 3,000 rise while temporary help employment rose 3,600 (-3.9% y/y) following a 2,700 decline. Financial activities employment improved 14,000 (1.2% y/y) after a 6,000 gain. The number of information sector jobs held steady (-0.4% y/y) last month after falling 2,000 in March.

Government sector payrolls rose 10,000 (1.3% y/y) last month after increasing 15,000 in March. The number of local government jobs increased 13,000 (1.4% y/y) following a 17,000 gain. State government employment rose 6,000 (1.8% y/y) following a 2,000 March increase but federal government payrolls fell 9,000 (-0.3% y/y), the third consecutive monthly decline.

Private-sector average hourly earnings rose 0.2% (3.8% y/y) in April after increasing 0.3% in March. Earnings in the goods-producing sector eased 0.1% (+4.0% y/y) following a 0.6% gain. Earnings in construction rose 0.3% (3.6% y/y), after a 0.2% rise but factory sector earnings declined 0.3% (+4.3% y/y) after surging 0.8% in March. In the private services-sector, earnings rose 0.2% (3.7% y/y) in April for the third straight month. Information sector pay increased 1.0% (5.2% y/y) last month after easing 0.1%, and financial activities earnings rose 0.5% (4.3% y/y) for the second straight month. Trade, transportation & utilities sector pay increased 0.4% (3.4% y/y) after 0.6%. Professional & business sector earnings increased 0.1% (4.4% y/y) after 0.2% in March. Leisure & hospitality earnings held steady (+3.8% y/y) following a 0.6% March increase.

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The length of the average workweek held steady at 34.3 hours in April. The workweek in the goods-producing sector eased to 39.8 hours from 40.0 hours. The construction sector average workweek eased to 39.0 hours from 39.3 hours while the factory sector workweek moved lower to 40.0 hours from 40.2. The average workweek in the private service sector held at 33.2 hours. Professional & business service hours fell to 36.3 hours from 36.4 while trade, transportation & utilities hours improved to 34.3 from 34.0 hours. Private education hours rose slightly to 32.8, but leisure & hospitality held steady at 25.5 hours.

In the **household survey**, the unemployment rate held at 4.2% in April as employment rose 436,000 and the size of the labor force increased 518,000. The labor force participation rate edged up to 62.6% last month from 62.5% in March. It remained below the high of 63.3% early in 2020. The rate for teenagers declined to 36.9%. For workers aged 20-24, the rate held steady at 72.1%, up from 71.8% six months earlier. For workers aged 25-54 the rate rose to 83.6%, a five-month high. For individuals 55 and over, the rate improved to 38.4% in April.

The employment/population ratio for all workers in April rose to 60.0%. It remained below the peak reading of 61.1% in February, 2020 just prior to the pandemic.

The employment and earnings data are collected from surveys taken each month during the week containing the 12th day of the month. The labor market data are contained in Haver's **USECON** database. Detailed figures are in the **EMPL** and **LABOR** databases. The expectations figures are in the **AS1REPNA** database.

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- Job growth spreads across most sectors.
- Earnings growth trend decelerates.
- Jobless rate holds steady.

U.S. Job Growth Is Firm in April but March Gain Is Lessened

Winnie Tapasanun

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Total factory orders rose a slightly less-than-expected 4.3% m/m in March after rises of 0.5% in February and 1.8% in January, data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed. A 4.5% m/m March increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The March reading was the third successive monthly rise and the largest since July 2024. The year-on-year rate accelerated to 6.0% in March, the highest since November 2022, from 2.3% in February. Notably, orders for nondefense aircraft & parts soared 139.0% in March following a 7.4% drop in February and a 92.9% surge in January. Factory orders excluding defense rose 4.8% (5.9% y/y), the largest of three straight m/m/ rises, after a 0.4% February increase. Factory orders excluding the transportation sector fell 0.2% (+1.1% y/y), the first m/m fall since August, after rising 0.3% in February, January and December.

Durable goods orders jumped 9.2% (11.9% y/y) in March, the third consecutive m/m gain and the biggest since July 2024, on top of a 0.8% increase in February (matching +9.2% m/m in the advance report on April 24). The March jump reflected m/m orders increases of 27.1% (the largest m/m surge since July 2024; 31.2% y/y) in transportation equipment, 1.1% (4.9% y/y) in primary metals, 0.5% (-0.4% y/y) in furniture & related products, 0.1% (2.5% y/y) in fabricated metal products, and 0.1% (0.9% y/y) in machinery. To the downside, durable goods orders for computers & electronic products (-1.3%; +2.7% y/y) and electrical equipment, appliances & components (-1.0%; +4.2% y/y) declined m/m in March.

Nondurable goods orders, which equal nondurable goods shipments, fell 0.3% (+0.4% y/y) in March, the first m/m fall since September, after a 0.1% uptick in February. The March fall reflected m/m drops of 2.4% (-9.3% y/y) in petroleum & coal products and 0.9% (-1.2% y/y) in apparel. To the upside, the following nondurable goods shipments rose m/m in March: leather & allied products (1.5%; 8.6% y/y), beverage & tobacco products (0.7%; 5.8% y/y), paper products (0.6%; 2.3% y/y), printing (0.3%; 3.8% y/y), textile mills (0.3%; 0.8% y/y), chemical products (0.2%; 5.4% y/y), plastics & rubber products (0.2%; 0.4% y/y), food products (0.1%; 1.8% y/y), and textile products (0.1%; 2.1% y/y).

Total shipments slipped 0.1% (+2.0% y/y) in March, the first m/m easing since October, after a 0.7% increase in February. Excluding transportation, shipments were virtually unchanged m/m (+1.1% y/y) in March following six straight m/m gains. Shipments of durable goods industries inched up 0.1% (3.8% y/y) in March, the smallest of four consecutive m/m increases, after a 1.3% advance in February. This reflected m/m durable goods shipments rises of 1.2% (5.6% y/y) in primary metals, 0.9% (0.1% y/y) in furniture & related products, 0.8% (-0.2% y/y) in nonmetallic mineral products, 0.4% (0.0% y/y) in machinery, 0.3% (1.8% y/y) in fabricated metal products, 0.2% (4.5% y/y) in computers & electronic products, 0.2% (-2.1% y/y) in wood products, and 0.1% (3.0% y/y) in electrical equipment, appliances & components. In contrast, durable goods shipments for transportation equipment (-0.5%; +7.3% y/y) and miscellaneous durable goods (-0.1%; +2.9% y/y) fell m/m in March following three successive m/m increases.

Unfilled orders rose 2.0% (2.3% y/y) in March, up for the eighth month in nine, after a 0.1% uptick in February. Excluding transportation, unfilled orders dipped 0.1% (+0.7% y/y) in March, the first m/m easing since May 2024, after holding steady in February. Backlogs of durable goods rose 2.0% (2.3% y/y) in March, reflecting m/m rises of 3.1% (3.1% y/y) in transportation equipment and 0.2% (2.4% y/y) in electrical equipment, appliances & components.

Inventories edged up 0.1% (0.9% y/y) in March, the fifth straight m/m increase, after rising at the same pace in the prior two months. Excluding transportation, inventories were up 0.1% (0.5% y/y) in March, the fifth consecutive m/m rise. Durable goods inventories ticked up 0.1% (1.0% y/y) in March after holding steady in February and January; nondurable goods inventories edged up 0.1% (0.8% y/y), the fifth successive m/m increase.

The factory sector data are available in Haver’s **USECON** database. The Action Economics Forecast Survey is in the **AS1REPNA** database.

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- March manufacturers’ new orders +4.3% m/m; +6.0% y/y, highest since Nov. ’22.
- Durable goods orders (+9.2%) jump m/m, while nondurable goods orders (-0.3%) and shipments (-0.1%) decline m/m.
- Transportation equipt. orders +27.1% m/m, w/ a 139.0% m/m surge in nondefense aircraft & parts orders.
- Unfilled orders +2.0%, the eighth m/m rise in nine months.
- Inventories +0.1%, the fifth consecutive m/m increase.

U.S. Factory Orders Increase for the Third Straight Month in March

Robert Brusca

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The global manufacturing data showed broad weakening in April as conditions weakened across more than half of the contributing early reporters in the S&P survey of manufacturing. Of the 18 early reporting countries, more than half of them showed deceleration over six months and 12 months. Over three months, only 8 of 18 showed deterioration and that's about as good as it got in this report. In the current month, month-to-month changes showed more than half of the survey contributors showing weaker results than the month before. In the S&P framework, manufacturing improved month-to-month for the U.S.; however, looking at sequential averages for the U.S., U.K., European monetary union, Canada, and Japan, we see a steady weakening and results over 12 months, over six months versus 12 months, and for three months versus 6 months. The highly developed countries are not doing particularly well.

Asian economies are also showing slight deterioration but doing a little better than the developed countries in general.

Only five of the 18 reporting countries have queue percentile standings in their data back to January 2021 that are above their medians. Readings at or above the 50% mark are at or above the median standing. Canada is showing the weakest manufacturing result on record over this span, in terms of its queue percentile standing which is at 0 in the current month.

I showed the graphic for the Baltic dry goods index in this report rather than statistics on the manufacturing PMI data because the Baltic data, which reflect shipping volume for dry goods - that is excluding things like oil - is weak but it's only in the neighborhood where it's been for some time. There has been a great deal of talk about how tariffs may have impacted trade flows, expected trade flows, shipping, shipping rates, and the like. However, according to the Baltic dry goods index, there isn't much evidence that this is occurring right now and affecting the current data. That may still lie ahead but for now it's not baked in the cake.

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Globally Manufacturing Weakens

Andrew Cates

**China-US shipping activity** 
The economic fallout from escalating US-China trade tensions is becoming increasingly visible in the data. A clear example is the chart below, which highlights a sharp drop in vessel arrivals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, along with a notable decline in ships waiting offshore. These trends point to a tangible weakening in bilateral trade flows, as the effects of tit-for-tat tariffs imposed by both countries begin to bite. Given the outsized role the US and China play in global commerce, this slowdown is likely to reverberate through global supply chains, weighing on trade volumes, dampening demand, and curbing economic growth worldwide.

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**GDP growth in Q1**
Data this week showed that the US economy contracted, albeit modestly, in Q1 even as the euro area recorded a modest expansion—an unusual divergence. The contraction in US GDP can be largely attributed to a sharp increase in imports, as firms rushed to front-load purchases ahead of anticipated tariff hikes. In addition, domestic demand was subdued, with weaker contributions from both consumer spending and government consumption. This decoupling between the US and euro area economies is particularly striking given the current global focus on the US dollar. While the euro area has shown unexpected signs of resilience, the US downturn raises important questions about its underlying momentum, especially as trade dynamics and policy uncertainty continue to cloud the outlook.

250501Z2.jpg

**The US dollar versus yield differentials**
Chart 3 below illustrates a sharp breakdown in the correlation between the US-Germany 10-year yield differential and the EUR/USD exchange rate. Historically, the dollar has moved closely with interest rate spreads, as yield-seeking capital flowed into US assets. But since early 2025—and more acutely following the April tariff actions—the dollar has weakened markedly even as the yield spread has narrowed only modestly. This decoupling underscores a critical shift: capital markets are reacting not just to monetary policy, but to rising trade and geopolitical uncertainty. In other words, the exchange rate is now being driven as much by risk sentiment as by interest rate arbitrage.

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**The US economy’s structural outperformance and the dollar**
A second dynamic, captured in the next chart, reveals a tight correlation between the US real effective exchange rate and the potential GDP growth differential between the US and euro area over the past 50-60 years. This raises the question: has dollar strength (until recently) merely been a reflection of US growth leadership—or are capital inflows themselves helping to sustain this growth outperformance? In effect, the tail may be wagging the dog. Global investors have long allocated capital to the US, attracted by its macroeconomic resilience, technological leadership, and deep, liquid financial markets. The danger now is that the US trade war may disrupt this equilibrium. A sharp or sustained reduction in capital inflows could undermine growth, weaken the dollar, and trigger broader financial instability. Moreover, reversing this dynamic is not straightforward—barring a credible structural resurgence in European (or Asian) growth, the global investment landscape remains tilted toward the US.

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**US competitiveness versus Europe, China and Japan** 
The next chart below examines relative unit labour costs across major economies since 2011. The US and China have seen a broadly similar trajectory, with steady increases in relative cost structures, while the euro area has remained flat and Japan has seen dramatic improvement. This suggests that, from a cost competitiveness standpoint, the US is not uniquely disadvantaged vis-à-vis China. However, as we discuss further below, this parallel erosion of cost competitiveness is occurring at much higher nominal wage levels in the US, which blunts its ability to regain export share through tariff-related shifts alone. The trade war strategy—absent a corresponding improvement in productivity or structural reforms—risks imposing costs without delivering material competitiveness gains.

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**Average wages in selected developed and developing economies**
This point is reinforced by the final chart, which shows estimates for average monthly wages across countries in 2024. US labour remains much more expensive than in peer or emerging economies. So even if China’s costs rise in tandem with the US, the global supply chain has ample alternatives. 'China plus one' strategies are accelerating, and the US remains structurally misaligned with low-cost production hubs. Tariffs aimed at reshoring supply chains are unlikely to deliver sustained gains unless accompanied by deep supply-side reforms, and risk further disincentivizing foreign direct investment if global firms perceive US trade policy as erratic or punitive.

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Financial markets found a measure of calm this week, buoyed by some subtle shifts in tone from US policymakers. A softening in the administration’s rhetoric around trade tariffs coupled with a less confrontational stance toward Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, helped ease tensions that had roiled markets earlier in the month. Equities rebounded modestly, and volatility indicators edged lower, reflecting cautious optimism that the worst of the policy shocks may be behind us. But beneath the surface, significant downside risks persist. New shipping data point to a pronounced slowdown in US-China trade flows (chart 1), suggesting the damage from recent tariff escalations is already rippling through global supply chains. Meanwhile, incoming data for the US revealed an unexpected contraction in the economy in Q1 and further signs of weakness in the labour market (chart 2). The US dollar, in the meantime, while long supported by superior growth and yield differentials, has begun to decouple from traditional drivers (charts 3 and 4) suggesting growing pressure on capital flows. At the same time, structural imbalances are drawing renewed scrutiny: unit labour cost comparisons show the US steadily losing competitiveness (chart 5), while nominal wage disparities remain stark versus China and other Asian economies, further complicating any effort to restore trade balance without broader reforms (chart 6). In short, while markets may be drawing temporary comfort from a pause in tariff brinkmanship, the deeper economic and financial vulnerabilities exposed this month remain unresolved—and increasingly central to the global macro narrative.

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Charts of the Week: Tariff Truce, Tenuous Trust

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U.S. light vehicle sales dropped 2.9% (+6.5% y/y) to 17.31 million units (SAAR) in April after surging 10.8% to 17.82 million units in March. The retreat in April vehicle sales accompanied a 1.7% y/y rise in real disposable income through March, which compared to 2.0% growth last year.

Sales declines were broad-based last month. Light truck sales fell 1.3% (+9.9% y/y) during April to 14.34 million units (SAAR), after rising 12.4% in March. Purchases of domestically-made light trucks declined 1.2% (+11.9% y/y) to 11.02 million units, after jumping 12.5% in March. Sales of imported light trucks fell 1.8% (+4.4% y/y) to 3.32 million units, following an 11.6% March surge.

Trucks’ record 82.8% share of the light vehicle market last month compared to 81.5% in March and 80.3% in April of last year. The share averaged 80.3% during all of 2024 versus 53.3% ten years earlier.

Auto sales also declined last month, down 9.5% (-7.5%) to 2.97 million units (SAAR) following a 3.5% March rise. The decline reversed all of the increase over the prior two months. Purchases of domestically-produced cars fell 9.8% (-4.3% y/y) last month to 2.22 million units, after rising 3.8% in March. Sales of imported autos declined 9.6% (-15.7% y/y) to 0.75 million units, following a 2.5% March increase.

Imports' 23.5% share of the U.S. light vehicle market was little changed from 23.6% in March and compared to a May 2023 low of 22.9% and a high of 26.3% in November of 2023. Imports' share of the passenger car market held steady at 25.3% last month and compared to 27.7% in April of last year. It reached a high of 38.7% in September 2021. Imports' share of the light truck market eased to 23.2% last month after falling to 23.3% in March.

U.S. vehicle sales figures can be found in Haver's **USECON** database. Additional detail by manufacturer is in the I**NDUSTRY** database.

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- Light truck sales pull back, while auto sales tumble.
- Both domestic and imported sales decline.
- Imports' market share slips further.

Economy in Brief: December 2004

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JOLTS: Job Openings & Hires Up in the US

JOLTS: Job Openings & Hires Up in the US

German Investor Confidence Stops Falling After Four Months of Decline

Challenger Layoff Count Rose Further

Chain Store Sales Slumped Further

U.S. Productivity Growth Little Revised for 3Q

U.S. Productivity Growth Little Revised for 3Q

German New Orders for Manufacturing Increase in October but Sales Lag