Tom Moeller

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705d.jpg" width="353">
The non-manufacturing sector Business Activity Index for June rose to 60.7, up a point m/m, and the gain was to the highest level since April 2006 according to the Institute for Supply Management.
Since the series&#39; inception in 1997 there has been a 46% correlation between the level of the Business Activity Index and the Q/Q change in real GDP for services plus construction.
The employment sub index ticked up to 55.0, its highest level in more than year. Since the series&#39; inception in 1997 there has been a 56% correlation between the level of the ISM non-manufacturing employment index and the m/m change in payroll employment in the service producing plus the construction industries.
The new orders index in contrast, fell m/m to 56.9, a level which still indicates growth in new orders.
Pricing power fell a modest 0.9 points to 65.5 after a sharp 2.9 point rise during May. Since inception eight years ago, there has been a 70% correlation between the price index and the y/y change in the GDP services chain price index.
ISM surveys more than 370 purchasing managers in more than 62 industries including construction, law firms, hospitals, government and retailers. The non-manufacturing survey dates back to July 1997.
Business Activity Index for the non-manufacturing sector reflects a question separate from the subgroups mentioned above. In contrast, the NAPM manufacturing sector composite index is a weighted average five components.
The Role of Small Businesses in Economic Development from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City can be found <a href="http://www.kansascityfed.org/PUBLICAT/ECONREV/PDF/2q07edmi.pdf">here</a>. 

<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/USECON/@EF/@EF03/@EF03.HTM">ISM Nonmanufacturing Survey</a></th>
<th scope="col">June</th>
<th scope="col">May</th>
<th scope="col">June &#39;06</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Business Activity Index</td>
<td>60.7</td>
<td>59.7</td>
<td>56.9</td>
<td>58.0</td>
<td>60.2</td>
<td>62.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Prices Index</td>
<td>65.5</td>
<td>66.4</td>
<td>72.3</td>
<td>65.2</td>
<td>68.0</td>
<td>68.8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>


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The non-manufacturing sector Business Activity Index for June rose to 60.7, up a point m/m, and the gain was to the highest level since April 2006 according to the Institute for Supply Management. Since the series' inception in 1997 [...]

ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Indicates Strength in Services

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705a.jpg" width="353">
Initial unemployment insurance claims rose 2,000 to 318,000last week after a 10,000 increase the week prior.
During the last ten years there has been a (negative) 77% correlation between the level of initial claims and the m/m change in nonfarm payroll employment.
The four-week moving average of initial claims rose to 318,500 (2.8% y/y).
An 84,000 rise in continuing claims for unemployment insurance reversed all of a 32,000 decline during the week prior. 
The insured rate of unemployment ticked up to 2.0%.

<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/WEEKLY/@W5/@W507/@W507.HTM">Unemployment Insurance (000s)</a></th>
<th scope="col">06/30/07</th>
<th scope="col">06/27 /07</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Initial Claims</td>
<td>318</td>
<td>316</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>313</td>
<td>332</td>
<td>343</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Continuing Claims</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>2,569</td>
<td>4.7%</td>
<td>2,459</td>
<td>2,662</td>
<td>2,924</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>


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Initial unemployment insurance claims rose 2,000 to 318,000last week after a 10,000 increase the week prior. During the last ten years there has been a (negative) 77% correlation between the level of initial claims and the m/m change [...]

Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Up Slightly

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705b.jpg" width="353">
Last month, U.S. sales of light vehicles fell for the sixth consecutive month this year. The 3.4% m/m decline to an annualized selling rate of 15.6M units, according to the Autodata Corporation, was to the lowest level since October 2005<img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705c.jpg" width="353">
Sales of imported vehicles held about steady m/m, due to sharp discounting, at a 4.00M selling rate (4.4% y/y). Sales of imported cars ticked up by 0.9% y/y but sales of imported light trucks surged 11.4% y/y.
Domestic car sales fell a hard 5.0%m/m (-2.1% y/y) after a 9.2% jump during May. Sales of domestic light trucks also fell a sharp 4.2% m/m (-8.9% y/y during June after an 8.9% drop the prior month.

<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/USECON/@ED/@ED09/@ED0901/@ED0901.HTM">Light Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Mil. Units)</a></th>
<th scope="col">June</th>
<th scope="col">May</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Total</td>
<td>15.60</td>
<td>16.16</td>
<td>-3.5%</td>
<td>16.55</td>
<td>16.96</td>
<td>16.87</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Autos</td>
<td>7.63</td>
<td>7.96</td>
<td>-1.1%</td>
<td>7.77</td>
<td>7.65</td>
<td>7.49</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Trucks</td>
<td>7.97</td>
<td>8.20</td>
<td>-5.8%</td>
<td>8.78</td>
<td>9.32</td>
<td>9.37</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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Last month, U.S. sales of light vehicles fell for the sixth consecutive month this year. The 3.4% m/m decline to an annualized selling rate of 15.6M units, according to the Autodata Corporation, was to the lowest level since October [...]

U.S. Vehicle Sales Lowest Since 2005

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705b.jpg" width="353">
Last month, U.S. sales of light vehicles fell for the sixth consecutive month this year. The 3.4% m/m decline to an annualized selling rate of 15.6M units, according to the Autodata Corporation, was to the lowest level since October 2005<img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705c.jpg" width="353">
Sales of imported vehicles held about steady m/m, due to sharp discounting, at a 4.00M selling rate (4.4% y/y). Sales of imported cars ticked up by 0.9% y/y but sales of imported light trucks surged 11.4% y/y.
Domestic car sales fell a hard 5.0%m/m (-2.1% y/y) after a 9.2% jump during May. Sales of domestic light trucks also fell a sharp 4.2% m/m (-8.9% y/y during June after an 8.9% drop the prior month.

<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/USECON/@ED/@ED09/@ED0901/@ED0901.HTM">Light Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Mil. Units)</a></th>
<th scope="col">June</th>
<th scope="col">May</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Total</td>
<td>15.60</td>
<td>16.16</td>
<td>-3.5%</td>
<td>16.55</td>
<td>16.96</td>
<td>16.87</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Autos</td>
<td>7.63</td>
<td>7.96</td>
<td>-1.1%</td>
<td>7.77</td>
<td>7.65</td>
<td>7.49</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Trucks</td>
<td>7.97</td>
<td>8.20</td>
<td>-5.8%</td>
<td>8.78</td>
<td>9.32</td>
<td>9.37</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Up Slightly 
by <a href="/comment/Moeller.html">Tom Moeller</a> July 5, 2007


<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705a.jpg" width="353">
Initial unemployment insurance claims rose 2,000 to 318,000last week after a 10,000 increase the week prior.
During the last ten years there has been a (negative) 77% correlation between the level of initial claims and the m/m change in nonfarm payroll employment.
The four-week moving average of initial claims rose to 318,500 (2.8% y/y).
An 84,000 rise in continuing claims for unemployment insurance reversed all of a 32,000 decline during the week prior. 
The insured rate of unemployment ticked up to 2.0%.

<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/WEEKLY/@W5/@W507/@W507.HTM">Unemployment Insurance (000s)</a></th>
<th scope="col">06/30/07</th>
<th scope="col">06/27 /07</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Initial Claims</td>
<td>318</td>
<td>316</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>313</td>
<td>332</td>
<td>343</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Continuing Claims</td>
<td>--</td>
<td>2,569</td>
<td>4.7%</td>
<td>2,459</td>
<td>2,662</td>
<td>2,924</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Indicates Strength in Services 
by <a href="/comment/Moeller.html">Tom Moeller</a> July 5, 2007


<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705d.jpg" width="353">
The non-manufacturing sector Business Activity Index for June rose to 60.7, up a point m/m, and the gain was to the highest level since April 2006 according to the Institute for Supply Management.
Since the series&#39; inception in 1997 there has been a 46% correlation between the level of the Business Activity Index and the Q/Q change in real GDP for services plus construction.
The employment sub index ticked up to 55.0, its highest level in more than year. Since the series&#39; inception in 1997 there has been a 56% correlation between the level of the ISM non-manufacturing employment index and the m/m change in payroll employment in the service producing plus the construction industries.
The new orders index in contrast, fell m/m to 56.9, a level which still indicates growth in new orders.
Pricing power fell a modest 0.9 points to 65.5 after a sharp 2.9 point rise during May. Since inception eight years ago, there has been a 70% correlation between the price index and the y/y change in the GDP services chain price index.
ISM surveys more than 370 purchasing managers in more than 62 industries including construction, law firms, hospitals, government and retailers. The non-manufacturing survey dates back to July 1997.
Business Activity Index for the non-manufacturing sector reflects a question separate from the subgroups mentioned above. In contrast, the NAPM manufacturing sector composite index is a weighted average five components.
The Role of Small Businesses in Economic Development from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City can be found <a href="http://www.kansascityfed.org/PUBLICAT/ECONREV/PDF/2q07edmi.pdf">here</a>. 

<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/USECON/@EF/@EF03/@EF03.HTM">ISM Nonmanufacturing Survey</a></th>
<th scope="col">June</th>
<th scope="col">May</th>
<th scope="col">June &#39;06</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Business Activity Index</td>
<td>60.7</td>
<td>59.7</td>
<td>56.9</td>
<td>58.0</td>
<td>60.2</td>
<td>62.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Prices Index</td>
<td>65.5</td>
<td>66.4</td>
<td>72.3</td>
<td>65.2</td>
<td>68.0</td>
<td>68.8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Japan’s LEI Rose in May: Signal Still Uncertain 
by <a href="/comment/Brusca.html">Robert Brusca</a> July 5, 2007


<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705e.jpg" width="353">
Japan&#146;s May rise in its LEI is the second in a two months technically, but is still not very impressive. Most growth rates still show it declining (see chart and table). However, over two years the index does post an annualized rate of growth of +0.2%. Japan&#146;s economy has been vexing in this cycle.
After a period of weakness Japan posted a rise in its LEI and of course in the underlying conditions that this index represents. The LEI&#146;s growth rate from October 2001 to July of 2004 was at an annual rate of 7.1%, pretty impressive. But then it peaked dipped and expanded again. The next result was that from the peak to next peak from roughly July 2004 &#150; May 2006 the growth of the index dropped off to a pace of 2.6%. Then really bad things began to happen as from that second peak in May 2006 the index fell to a low in March 2007 at 101.4 During that period the LEI was dropping at very fast 8.3% pace. Still the period of decline was less than a year. From the bottom of the LEI&#146;s trough back in October of 2001 the LEI is still growing but at a much more modest pace of 2.9%.
While the two-month rebound in the LEI is not definitive or a reliable guide of the future it did arrest this extended period of decline the LEI.
During this period Japan has continued to be dogged by deflation and its growth statistics have continued to be irregular, as the LEI attests. But the BOJ has been making noise as though it nonetheless wanted to hike interest rates. While the LEI does not tell a comprehensive story on the economy it does tell a capsulated story and one that should be viewed as cautionary with respect to growth conditions in Japan.
Japan at one time turned the corner fast but then it slowed and has since backtracked. Weakness in the yen attests to the mixed situation there and how investors view it. While we do not like to see governments telling central banks the kind of policies they want it is understandable in this environment that Japan&#146;s governing party is wary of the BoJ&#146;s apparent intent to go back to a rate hiking cycle so soon.
The BOJ and the Japanese government are ever mindful of the demographics and fiscal difficulties that lie ahead for them. If anything these concerns have kept them too eager to restrict fiscal policy (by hiking taxes) and too quick to raise interest rates (or too slow to cut them). Japan remains a country with the opposite policy tendencies to most Western nations even if it faces many of the same problems.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
 Japan&#39;s LEI and its Trends
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="even">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="3">Levels</td>
<td colspan="4">Growth (saar)</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;</td>
<td> May-07</td>
<td> Apr-07</td>
<td> Mar-07</td>
<td> 3M0</td>
<td> 6M0</td>
<td> 12Mo</td>
<td> 24MO</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">LEI</td>
<td>102.2</td>
<td>101.5</td>
<td>101.4</td>
<td>-2.7%</td>
<td>-4.4%</td>
<td>-5.4%</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>


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Robert Brusca

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070705a.jpg" width="353">
German sales remain weak and it&#146;s not all VAT at this point. Italy is weak. France is robust. 
Overall Euro area retail sales volume fell by 0.5% in May and are up by just 0.1% over three months and off by 0.2% over six months. Nonfood retail trends are better, but not by much. By comparison with the Euro area countries the UK, a large EU member, is showing still strong retail sales although its trend is showing a tail-off. The overall trend for the Euro area is showing some sign of exhaustion 
While German retail sales are weak and dragging down the Euro area in May, Germany&#146;s own growth is solid on strong MFG sector output and orders. The consumer sector is a lagging sector in Germany and its performance is distorted by the VAT start up that shifted some sales into late 2006. Clearly the consumer is not leading the growth in the Euro area except maybe in France. 

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
Euro Area 13 Retail Sales Volume
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="even">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp;</td>
<td>May-07</td>
<td>Apr-07</td>
<td>Mar-07</td>
<td>3-Mo</td>
<td>6-MO</td>
<td>12-Mo</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Total</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Food</td>
<td>-0.3%</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Nonfood</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>0.4%</td>
<td>-0.9%</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Textiles</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>1.5%</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
<td>11.5%</td>
<td>9.2%</td>
<td>6.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Household Goods</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>-0.9%</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
<td>1.8%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>3.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Books news</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>-0.3%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>2.4%</td>
<td>1.3%</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Pharmaceuticals</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
<td>2.8%</td>
<td>2.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Other Not Specified Elsewhere</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>-0.4%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>7.1%</td>
<td>1.7%</td>
<td>1.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Mail Order</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>-1.7%</td>
<td>9.4%</td>
<td>4.0%</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="7">Nonfood Country Detail: Volume</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Germany</td>
<td>-2.5%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>-2.0%</td>
<td>-4.9%</td>
<td>-1.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">France</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
<td>4.6%</td>
<td>5.1%</td>
<td>5.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Italy (Total Value)</td>
<td>#N/A</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
<td>0.2%</td>
<td>-1.7%</td>
<td>-1.1%</td>
<td>-0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">UK (EU)</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
<td>0.7%</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
<td>6.4%</td>
<td>4.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="7">Shaded areas calculated on a one-month lag due to lagging data</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="7">The EA 13 countries are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany,</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="7">Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
</html>

German sales remain weak and its not all VAT at this point. Italy is weak. France is robust. Overall Euro area retail sales volume fell by 0.5% in May and are up by just 0.1% over three months and off by 0.2% over six months. Nonfood [...]

Euro Area Retail Sales Slow

Louise Curley

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070703d.jpg" width="353">
The unemployment rates for both the twenty-seven countries in the Euro Union and the thirteen countries in the subdivision--the Euro Area--declined to 7.0% in May from 7.1% in April. These rates are shown in the first chart.<img align="right" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070703f.jpg" width="353">
The concepts of the Euro Area and the European Union are useful for institutional purposes, but, from an economic standpoint, a better breakdown of the twenty-seven countries of the EU would be between developed and emerging economies. Thus, the non Euro Area countries, Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom have more in common with the developed countries of the Euro Area countries and Slovenia of the Euro Area has more in common with the eleven emerging countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia.<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070703e.jpg" width="353">
Among the developed countries unemployment rates currently vary from 3.2% in the Netherlands to 8.7% in France., both of which are Euro Area countries. Unemployment rates in Denmark, a non euro area country, have fallen within this range and have in recent years followed closely the same path at the unemployment rate in the Netherlands, as can be see in the second chart.
Among the emerging countries of the European Union, unemployment rates currently range from 4.2% in Cyprus to 10.8% in Slovakia. Unemployment rates in the emerging Slovenia, which is in the Euro Area, have tended to be near the lower limit of this range, as can be seen in the third chart.

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<colgroup><col><col><col><col><col><col><col><col></colgroup>
<thead>
<tr>
<th scope="col" class="firstcol">UNEMPLOYMENT RATES&nbsp; (%)</th>
<th scope="col">May 07</th>
<th scope="col">Apr 07&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">May 06&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">M/M Dif&nbsp;</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y Dif</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">European Union 27</td>
<td>7.0</td>
<td>7.1</td>
<td>8.0</td>
<td>-0.1</td>
<td>-1.0</td>
<td>7.9</td>
<td>8.6</td>
<td>8.8</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">Euro Area 13</td>
<td>7.0</td>
<td>7.1</td>
<td>7.9</td>
<td>-0.1</td>
<td>-0.9</td>
<td>7.9</td>
<td>8.3</td>
<td>9.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="9">Developed Countries</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol"> &nbsp; Highest:&nbsp; France </td>
<td>8.7</td>
<td>8.8</td>
<td>9.6</td>
<td>-0.1</td>
<td>-0.9</td>
<td>9.5</td>
<td>9.7</td>
<td>9.6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Lowest:&nbsp; The Netherlands</td>
<td>3.2</td>
<td>3.3</td>
<td>3.9</td>
<td>-0.1</td>
<td>-0.7</td>
<td>3.9</td>
<td>4.7</td>
<td>4.6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Denmark</td>
<td>3.3</td>
<td>3.3</td>
<td>4.2</td>
<td>0.0</td>
<td>-0.9</td>
<td>3.9</td>
<td>4.8</td>
<td>5.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="9">Emerging Countries</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol"> &nbsp; Highest:&nbsp; Slovakia </td>
<td>10.8</td>
<td>10.8</td>
<td>13.6</td>
<td>0.0</td>
<td>-2.8</td>
<td>13.3</td>
<td>16.3</td>
<td>18.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Lowest:&nbsp; Cyprus</td>
<td>4.2</td>
<td>4.2</td>
<td>4.7.</td>
<td>0.0</td>
<td>-0.5</td>
<td>4.6</td>
<td>5.2</td>
<td>4.6</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td class="firstcol">&nbsp; Slovenia</td>
<td>5.1</td>
<td>5.2</td>
<td>6.2</td>
<td>-0.1</td>
<td>-1.1</td>
<td>6.0</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>6.3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</body>
</html>

The unemployment rates for both the twenty-seven countries in the Euro Union and the thirteen countries in the subdivision--the Euro Area--declined to 7.0% in May from 7.1% in April. These rates are shown in the first chart. The [...]

Unemployment Rates in the European Union: Developed Vs. Emerging Countries

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<img align="left" border="0" height="265" src="https://haver-commentaries.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/comments/070703c.jpg" width="353">
Chain store sales last week fell moderately for the second week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS. That pulled sales for all of June 0.5% below the May average which fell 0.7% from April. 
During the last ten years there has been a 45% correlation between the y/y change in chain store sales and the change in nonauto retail sales less gasoline.
The ICSC-UBS retail chain-store sales index is constructed using the same-store sales (stores open for one year) reported by 78 stores of seven retailers: Dayton Hudson, Federated, Kmart, May, J.C. Penney, Sears and Wal-Mart.
The leading indicator of chain store sales from ICSC-UBS conversely rose 0.2% (-0.5% y/y) last week after a 0.6% decline during the prior period. 
Stable Interest Rates Follow Stable Prices from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is available <a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/net/20070701/cover.pdf">here</a>.

<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">6/23/06</th>
<th scope="col">6/16/06</th>
<th scope="col">Y/Y</th>
<th scope="col">2006</th>
<th scope="col">2005</th>
<th scope="col">2004</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="firstcol">Total Weekly Chain Store Sales</td>
<td>479.5</td>
<td>482.8</td>
<td>1.9%</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
<td>4.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>


</html>

Chain store sales last week fell moderately for the second week, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-UBS. That pulled sales for all of June 0.5% below the May average which fell 0.7% from April.

Chain Store Sales Fell Moderately

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

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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.

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**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: July 2007

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ISM Nonmanufacturing Index Indicates Strength in Services

Initial Jobless Insurance Claims Up Slightly

U.S. Vehicle Sales Lowest Since 2005

U.S. Vehicle Sales Lowest Since 2005

Euro Area Retail Sales Slow

Euro Area Retail Sales Slow

Unemployment Rates in the European Union: Developed Vs. Emerging Countries

Chain Store Sales Fell Moderately