Economic Perspective – November 2014 Review

• U.S. gross domestic product grew during the third quarter at a slightly faster rate than the Bureau of Economic Analysis had previously estimated. However, the 3.9% increase in GDP was less than Q2’s 4.6%.
• The U.S. unemployment rate edged down 0.1% to 5.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The economy added 214,000 jobs, most of them in restaurants, retail, and health care. The new jobs figure was slightly lower than the 222,000 monthly average so far this year. Meanwhile, a 3-cent increase during the month brought the average hourly wage to $24.57; that average is up just under 2% over the last 12 months.
• Members of OPEC decided to maintain current production levels to try to maintain market share in the face of U.S. competition. The decision hurt oil prices around the world and raised concerns about whether oil companies would curtail investments in future energy development projects.
• In domestic politics, midterm elections gave Republicans control of both houses of Congress. Also, President Obama announced a program that will temporarily defer deportation for undocumented immigrants and allow them to receive work permits if they have been in the country for at least five years, have no criminal record, and/or have children who are American citizens.
• Despite growth in some of the eurozone’s weakest members, the region as a whole was hampered by sluggishness in the larger economies, such as Germany and Italy. The eurozone grew 0.2% during the third quarter, according to the European Union’s statistical agency. The European Central Bank continued to say it is ready to adopt additional stimulus measures if necessary to fight the twin threats of low inflation and stagnant growth.
• China’s central bank unexpectedly cut two key interest rates to try to stimulate domestic consumption. China and the United States also announced an agreement to take steps to combat climate change by controlling greenhouse gases.
• After a second quarter of contraction, Japan officially fell into recession as gross domestic product fell at an annualized rate of 1.6% during the third quarter. That put pressure on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who postponed for 18 months a planned second round of sales tax increases and called for a new parliamentary election.
• U.S. home prices in cities measured by the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index were flat in September. Also, the year-over-year increase continued to show a downward trend; September’s 4.9% annual gain was lower than the 5.6% seen a month earlier. Also, the Commerce Department said housing starts slipped 2.8% in October. However, sales of new homes were up 0.7% during the month, and the National Association of Realtors^® said home resales rose 1.5%.
• U.S. inflation was low enough to prompt the Fed’s monetary policy committee to say it will keep an eye out for signs of falling inflation, which could potentially delay any rate increase. Lower gas prices helped offset increases in housing costs; that left the Consumer Price Index unchanged for the month and the annual rate at 1.7%, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the 1.5% annualized wholesale inflation rate was the lowest since February.
• Manufacturing data was mixed. Though U.S. manufacturers saw a 0.4% increase in durable goods orders, according to the Commerce Department, the Federal Reserve said industrial production slumped 0.1% because of strong declines in mining and utilities. However, both the Empire State and Philly Fed manufacturing surveys showed business activity accelerating.

Eye on the Month Ahead

As a strong year for equities draws to a close, some investors may begin assessing whether to take some profits off the table or harvest any losses to offset realized capital gains. And all economic data is likely to be viewed through the prism of how it might affect Fed thinking about potential rate increases next year.

Source: Broadridge