Leading Indicators - PPI (PPIACO) vs. Unemployment (UNRATE) I wanted to highlight how the peak (downward move) in the Producer Price Index (PPIACO) typically corresponds with the trough (upward move) in the Unemployment Rate (UNRATE) (inverse correlation), as a period of Recession takes hold on the economy, & the financial markets.
I also wanted to compare the above correlation with cycle tops in WTI Crude Oil (WTISPLC) , & also with respect to the OECD Leading Indicators (USALOLITONOSTSAM) — as this helps to pinpoint some of the historic baseline(s) for predicting the peak &/or trough in the business vs. market (financial) cycles.
Here is the key for the attached chart(s):
Top Chart
Black Line (Unemployment Rate - UNRATE): *Black Vertical Dotted Line* = Recession Timing Trough
Blue Line (Producer Price Index - PPIACO): *Blue Vertical Dotted Line* = Recession Timing Peak
Orange Line (WTI Spot Crude - WTISPLC): *Orange Vertical Dotted Line* = Recession Timing Peak
Red Shaded Areas (Recession): Indicator via @chrism665
Bottom Chart
OECD Leading Indicators (USALOLITONOSTSAM): *Black Dashed Line* = Pre-Recession Indicator Peak
Green Horizontal Dotted Line = Expansion Baseline (100)
Orange Horizontal Dotted Line = Current Reading (98.62)
Red Horizontal Dotted Line = Danger Zone (<97)
Red Shaded Areas (Recession): Indicator via @chrism665
Looking at the larger picture of both charts, you can see that typically in previous periods of Recession you would see this flow of the signals (first to peak/trough, last to peak/trough):
Peak - OECD Leading Indicators (USALOLITONOSTSAM)
Trough - Unemployment Rate (UNRATE)
*Peak - Producer Price Index (PPIACO)*
*Peak - WTI Spot Crude (WTISPLC)*
*Note* - As you can see PPIACO & WTISPLC are very closely correlated as demand peaks out, you then see a shift downward in WTISPLC as this is a signal of the topping of economic growth.
Now let's dive close-up into each time period of recession, as we can see some linkages/similarities in the 1991, 2001, & 2009 recessions vs. the what is (likely) a 23' recession, depending how the economic , markets , & financial data plays out this upcoming year — potentially into 24'.
1991 Recession Timeline
Peak - OECD Leading Indicators (USALOLITONOSTSAM): July 1987
Trough - Unemployment Rate (UNRATE): Mar. 1989
Peak - Producer Price Index (PPIACO): Oct. 1990
Peak - WTI Spot Crude (WTISPLC): Nov. 1990
2001 Recession Timeline
Peak - OECD Leading Indicators (USALOLITONOSTSAM): Jan. 2000
Trough - Unemployment Rate (UNRATE): Apr. 2000
Peak - WTI Spot Crude (WTISPLC): Nov. 2000
Peak - Producer Price Index (PPIACO): Jan. 2001
2009 Recession Timeline
Trough - Unemployment Rate (UNRATE): May 2007
Peak - OECD Leading Indicators (USALOLITONOSTSAM): June 2007
Peak - WTI Spot Crude (WTISPLC): June 2008
Peak - Producer Price Index (PPIACO): July 2008
2023(24) Recession Estimated?
Peak - OECD Leading Indicators (USALOLITONOSTSAM): May 2021
Peak - Producer Price Index (PPIACO): June 2022
Peak - WTI Spot Crude (WTISPLC): June 2022
Trough - Unemployment Rate (UNRATE): Sept. 2022
What do you think about this macro analysis? Have we potentially been in a recession in 22' — or are we moving closer to higher unemployment (UNRATE) in 23' as the macro/market conditions worsen, & the Federal Reserve's tighter monetary conditions (liquidity & credit) take their toll on the economy? Let me know what you think in the comments below! 👇🏼
Oecd
Things ProfZero doesn't like - Increasing correlationsINVESTMENT CONTEXT
On June 9, the ECB governing council announced its intention to raise interest rates by 25bps in July; a "larger increment", possibly sized at 50bps, is envisaged for September if inflation persists
For the third time this year the World Bank cut its economic growth forecast for 2022, this time to 2.9%, after January and April revisions to 4.1% and 3.2% respectively, and warned about coming years of above-average inflation and possibly stagflation
The OECD slashed its global growth forecast to 3% - down from 4.5% it predicted only a few months ago
U.S. inflation in May unexpectedly hit 40-year high at 8.6%, up from April's reading at 8.3% considerably adding pressures to the Fed
Freeport LNG terminal in Texas, crucial for energy supplies to Europe, will be closed for at least three weeks following an explosion at its Texas Gulf Coast facility
Mortgage demand is at the lowest level in 22 years in front of rising rates
PROFZERO'S TAKE
Equities cratered on June 9 and 10, as investors processed the combined news of the ECB announcing its path to increase interest rates and surprisingly surging inflation in the U.S. Albeit money-market traders already priced in the ECB 25bps hike scheduled for July, now they are factoring a 40% probability of a heftier 50bps raise for September - one that would bring interest rates into positive territory almost 2 quarters ahead of forecasts after 8 years of ultra-loose monetary policy. ProfZero largely anticipated that markets didn't fully bake-in the ECB's course on monetary policy; now that that pocket of volatility has been uncovered, ProfZero sees turmoil on equity markets as the positions that were constructed in an attempt to call the bottom are unwound; yet with more clarity on the Regulation's side, now investors can rely on a more detailed strategic frame
ProfZero does not like swelling correlations. They signal generalized distress amongst traders, with algorithms amplifying the sentiment. Seeing the blockchain space fall along with the market at large while BTC comes at the closing point of a mid-term triangle indicates a possibly painful breakout may be in the making
PROFONE'S TAKE
After the bank cut again its world economic growth forecast for 2022, World Bank's President David Malpass said “The world economy is again in danger”. According to the OECD, the world economy will pay a "hefty price" for the war in Ukraine. The macroeconomic scenario is not homogeneous, and emerging market economies are expected to bear the brunt of the worsening conditions. Some signs of relief are appearing instead in developed countries, thanks to small price declines for semiconductors and fertilizers. ProfOne reminds that June is the peak period for energy supplies to be stocked ahead of winter in the northern hemisphere, while freight rates are expected to be kept high by persistent port congestion and intensifying deliveries for goods to be dispatched ahead of holiday season. Under such premises, Profs see but scant possibilities for near-term solution to the inflation equation, left alone the possibility of a "soft landing" for the economy deeper in 2022
PROFTHREE'S TAKE
Mixed news coming from China - trade data showed exports bounced back in May, growing at 16.9% on a yearly basis, while also imports rose to 4.1% after both indicators had hit the floor in April amidst COVID-related restrictions. Yet, albeit trade figures beat expectations, investors somewhat shifted their attention to a new lockdown in one district of Shanghai, which capped the gains in Asian markets. ProfThree has set its eyes on the containment of COVID in Inner Mongolia, China’s key coal mining province, which now accounts for almost a half of total Omicron cases in the country. With coal supply and the related logistics under strain, prices might surge even higher, compounding to global energy supply and security concerns
Pound unchanged, US inflation aheadGBP/USD is drifting today, with a very light economic calendar. There are no UK releases and the only important release out of the US was unemployment claims, which rose from 202 thousand to 229 thousand (210 exp.). Investors didn't pay much attention to the release, ahead of the US inflation report on Friday.
Headline CPI is expected to remain unchanged at 8.3%, while core CPI is forecast to fall to 5.9%, down from 6.2%. As has been the case with recent US inflation reports, the markets will be anxiously waiting for the Federal Reserve's reaction. The Fed is in the midst of an aggressive rate-tightening campaign, and if inflation shows a drop in tomorrow's report, I wouldn't be surprised to see headlines trumpeting the arrival of an inflation peak, although such a sweeping conclusion after just one release is certainly premature.
The US dollar has been in choppy waters for much of the week, and the huge anticipation ahead of the inflation report could shake up the currency and make for a busy end to the week. The CPI release should result in a binary outcome - if inflation outperforms, it will put pressure on the Fed to tighten even further, which is bullish for the US dollar. Conversely, a weaker than expected reading will ease pressure on the Fed and the US dollar could lose ground.
The OECD had some grim news about global growth earlier this week, with a particularly pessimistic forecast for the UK. Global growth is expected to fall to 3 per cent, down from 4.5% in the December projection. The OECD said that the war in Ukraine and Covid lockdowns across China had "generated a new set of adverse shocks". As for the UK, the OECD predicted zero growth in 2023, the worst forecast for any of the 38 OECD members.
GBP/USD is testing resistance at 1.2537. Above, there is resistance at 1.2614
There is support at 1.2413 and 1.2336
Central Bank Week Results, OECD Forecasts and Pound GrowthFollowing the Fed, the Banks of Japan, Switzerland and England announced their decisions on the parameters of monetary policies. They keep interest rate steady. Accordingly, there were no large movements in the pound, yen and franc parities. Although it is worth noting some strengthening of the yen following the Bank of Japan decision.
Kuroda (the head of the Bank of Japan) noted that the Central Bank supports the expansion of monetary incentives. So the global trend towards easing monetary policies may continue.
Based on the results, our trading recommendations are unchanged. We will continue to sell the dollar primarily against the yen and the British pound. We will also sell the euro against the yen.
As for the pound, its fate will depend entirely on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. We are still looking for a positive outcome, therefore, recommend buying the British pound. Moreover, yesterday the pound against the dollar rose to the highest levels since July 2019. This happened after the comments of the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker appeared that the Brexit deal could well be concluded before October 31.
in the light Gold purchases continue to be relevant. Concern among investors yesterday updated OECD forecasts on the world economic growth rates were added. The organization lowered its estimates to 2.9% from 3.2%. OECD also warned that exit without a deal would provoke a recession in the UK economy.
Speaking of the UK economy. Retail sales came out worse than expected -0.2% m/m (forecast was 0%). But once again we emphasize that the fate of the pound is now decided not by economic data, but by Brexit.
Yesterday, data on the real estate market in the United States was published and again the data significantly exceeded experts' forecasts: sales of existing homes in August increased by + 1.3% m/m (forecast was -0.7%).