Chicago PMI Screams RECESSION! Falls To Cycle Low Of 35.4, Back To 2008 Recession Levels (Copper Prices Rising!)

Not so Sweet Home Chicago!

After unexpectedly slumping last month to 37.9, the Chicago PMI index cratered even more unexpectedly in May, when it defied hopes of a rebound to 41.5, and instead tumbled even more, sliding to a cycle low of 35.4 which was not only below the lowest estimate, but was staggeringly low. To get a sense of just how low, the last two times it printed here was during the peak of the covid and global financial crises…

… which seems to suggest that at least according to Chicago-based purchasing managers, the economy is in a depression.

This is how the final number looked relative to expectations.

Looking at the report we find the following:

Business barometer fell at a faster pace; signaling contraction
New orders fell at a faster pace; signaling contraction
Employment fell at a faster pace; signaling contraction
Inventories fell at a faster pace; signaling contraction
Supplier deliveries fell at a slower pace; signaling contraction
Production fell at a slower pace; signaling contraction
Order backlogs fell at a faster pace; signaling contraction

Did nothing rise? One thing did:

Prices paid rose at a slower pace; signaling expansion

So we have not just a depression, but a stagflationary depression in which everything else is going to hell, except prices: they keep on rising.

And while it is unclear what has prompted this unprecedented bearishness (the surely negative contribution from Boeing is likely to blame for a substantial portion of the apocalyptic outlook), one thing is certain: Goldman will have to come up with even more goalseeked surveys that explain away reality and tell us how purchasing managers really should feel…

On the good news front, REAL Gross Domester Income rose to 1.5%.

As copper prices keep on rising. Which is bad news for Biden’s shift to EVs! (Once again, Biden is driven around in gas guzzling Chevy Tahoes/Suburbans and owns a Chevy Corvette). There isn’t enough copper production to build the EVs that Biden wants.

Biden drove his Chevy to the STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE and the reserve was dry. And them good old Democrats were drinkin’ whiskey and rye after a New York Jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts, despite there not being any laws broken.

I have testified and sat through many trials in New York city and have never seen a court case quite like the one the Trump lost with the Judge effectively telling the jury to find Trump guilty.

US Pending Home Sales Plunge To Record Lows In April As Rates Rose (After Terrible Mortgage Report)

With the terrible mortgage applications index from Wednedsay, we are seeing US pending home sales crashiing. As Joe Biden handles the economy his way.

After an unexpected jump in March, pending home sales were expected to drop 1.0% MoM in April as mortgage rates pushed back above 7.00% and stayed there.

Well, the analysts had the direction right but magnitude was way off as pending home sales plunged 7.7% MoM – the biggest drop since Feb 2021 (and below the lowest estimate), leaving sales down 0.7% YoY…

Source: Bloomberg

This is the 29th straight month of YoY declines for non-seasonally-adjusted pending home sales.

This MoM decline pushed the Pending Home Sales Index back to record lows…

Source: Bloomberg

The Midwest saw the biggest drop in pending sales, down 9.5% in April, followed by declines of 8.5% and 7.6% in the West and South, respectively. Contract signings in the Northeast fell 3.5%.

“The impact of escalating interest rates throughout April dampened home buying, even with more inventory in the market,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement.

“But the Federal Reserve’s anticipated rate cut later this year should lead to better conditions, with improved affordability and more supply.”

All driven by affordability crisis as mortgage rates surged back above 7.00%…

Source: Bloomberg

“The prospect of measurable home price declines appears minimal,” Yun said.

“The few markets experiencing price declines will be viewed as second-chance opportunities for buyers to enter the market if those regions continue to add jobs.”

As a reminder, the pending-sales report tends to be a leading indicator of sales of previously owned homes, because houses typically go under contract a month or two before they’re sold.

Is The Thrill Gone From Mortgages? US Mortgage Puchase Demand Falls 3% From Previous Week, Down 10% From Last Year, Down 40% Under Biden (Refi Demand Down -15% Since Last Week)

The thrill is gone …from the US mortgage market.

Mortgage applications decreased 5.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 24, 2024.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 6.3 percent compared with the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 3 percent compared with the previous week and was 10 percent lower than the same week one year ago. And -40% under Biden.

The Refinance Index decreased 14 percent from the previous week and was 12 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

It is still an unfavorable time to buy a home!

From the film “Ronin” that sums up actor Robert DeNiro in one sentence.

Spence (Sean Bean): “You know, you think too hard.”
Sam (Robert DeNiro): “Nobody ever told me that before.”

How would DeNiro consider the 40% drop in mortgage purchase demand under Biden?

Economic Surprise Index Falls To -0.126 As Buying Conditions For Housing Remains Negative For Most Of Biden’s Presidency (US Debt Servicing Costs 12% Of Government Spending)

I saw former President Obama criticizing former President Trump for not passing “transformative” changes. That is, Trump didn’t sign any Obama-like transformative changes (like Obamacare). Truimp did try to slow down the damage done by Obama and his transformative agenda (e.g., open borders, wealth redistritution, green energy) that Biden has attempted to continue.

As we approach the party conventions and Presidential election of 2024, we saw the Economic Surprise Index (ESI) in May decline to -0.126.

Coupled with Biden’s negative buying conditions for housing (higher mortgage rates and soaring house prices), Obama’s Jacobian transformative economic fantasty is on thin ice.

Speaking of higher interest rates, US debt servicing costs currently make up 12% of government spending. Jacobin revolution = Cloward-Piven.

Let’s hope the Obama/Biden Jacobin revolution doesn’t get to this point!

Fear The Talking Fed! Inflation Restarts As Fed EXPANDS M2 Money (Mortgage Rates Stabilize)

Money, money!

The various talking heads from The Federal Reserve keep jawboning about whether to raise rates or not. One of the major drivers of inflation is … money. M2 Money growth YoY is growing again (blue line)! And with it, inflation has been rekindled.

Mortgage rates? There is a lag between M2 Money printing and conforming mortgage rate growth.

Fear the talking Fed.

Sign Of The Times! Mortgage Purchase Demand (Applications) DOWN -2% Since Last Week, DOWN -11% Since Last Year (VA Mortgages Prepaying The Fastest)

It’s a sign of the times under Bidenomics!

Mortgage applications increased 1.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 17, 2024.

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 1.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 1.1 percent compared with the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 2 percent compared with the previous week and was 11 percent lower than the same week one year ago.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate declined for the third straight week, dropping to 7.01 percent – the lowest level in seven weeks. Thus, the Refinance Index increased 7 percent from the previous week and was 21 percent higher than the same week one year ago.

VA-insured mortgages prepay the fastest, followed by FHA-insured mortgages then conventional mortgages.

I know a place where the housing market is hot! Florida and Texas!

Gasoline Prices UP 60% Under Biden As He Releases 1 Million Barrels Of Gasoline From Northeast Reserve (Hypocrite Joe!)

You know “Green Joe” is desperate for re-election when he approves the release of 1 million barrels of gasoline from the Northeast Reserve in an attempt to lower gasoline prices. Jennifer Granholm, US energy Overlord, said it is to lower gasoline prices for 4th of July weekend (LOL!). Or in time for the November Presidential election.

Remember, gasoline prices are up 60% under Biden. While Biden brags that gasoline prices has fallen recently, they are still up 60% nationally.

Gasoline futures prices are down a little today after the announcement by Granholm.

I never thought Biden really believed what he was spewing, trying to force us to buy electric vehicles while he drives a gas-guzzling Chevy Corvette.

I’ll bet his green zanies won’t like this!

What a creep!

Sundown? Inflation Slowing, But Still At 4.5% (Fed Still Printing Zads Of Dollars!)

I learn something new everyday. Like Biden yesterday claimed has was VP during Covid (uhm, Covid was in 2020 and Biden left the office of VP in 2017). But nothing gets in the way of Biden and a good story! Like his whopper that he inherited 9% inflation from Trump (even CNN fact-checked this whopper and found it was false. It was only 1.4%!)

But inflation is still at 4.5%, according to the Cleveland Federal Reserve.

Now, there are many measures of inflation to choose from, from Core CPI of 2.1% YoY to Cleveland Fed’s Median CPI of 4.5%.

Is it sundown for the US economy and its middle class? Or the wreck of the USS Economy under Biden?

Highway To Hell? Sentiment For Home Buying Nears All-time Low As Mortgage Rates Remain High, 30Y Treasuries On Track For 3rd Worst Return Since 1919 And China Continues To Dump US Treasuries (Home Prices UP 34% Under Biden, Mortgage Rates UP 165%)

The US is on a “Highway to Hell!” thanks to flawed economic policies under Biden.

First, interest and mortgage rates under Biden have soared driving buying conditions for housing to all-time lows. Combine sky-high home prices with high mortgage rates and we have as serious affordability crisis.

Second, on the interest rate front, the 30-year Treasury bond is on track for the 3rd worst annual return since 1919 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Not not the current invasion, but the 1919 invasion.

Third, China is dumping their holdings of US Treasuries and Agency Debt at record rates.

Of course, mortgage rates hit 18% in 1981. So, the term high mortgage rates is relative. The US had low rates for too long (Bernanke/Yellen) and mortgage rates are now in the 7% range, up 165% under Biden. And home prices are up 34% since Biden was sworn-in as President. Wow! Mortgage rates up 165% and home prices up 34% under Biden’s Reign of Error.

Well done, gentlemen! … NOT!

Back On The Chain Gang! Conference Board’s Leading Economic Indicator Decreased -0.6% In April (Bidenomics Failing Middle Class)

The US middle class and low-wage workers are back on the chain gang while the top 1% party hearty.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. decreased by 0.6 percent in April 2024 to 101.8 (2016=100), after decreasing by 0.3 percent in March. Over the six-month period between October 2023 and April 2024, the LEI contracted by 1.9 percent—a smaller decrease than its 3.5 percent decline over the previous six months.

It is surprising that Americans trusts the millionaires in the Administration (like Biden) or Congress (like Schumer, McConnell, etc) to have our backs on the roaring inflation rate. At least Speaker Mike Johnson isn’t a millionaire … yet. But that might explain his selling out conservatives.