Economic Outlook Mid-West Fastener Association Elk Grove Village, IL February 21, 217 William Strauss Senior Economist and Economic Advisor Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
GDP expanded by 1.9% in 216 8 6 4 2-2 -4-6 -8-1 Real gross domestic product percent Percent change from a year earlier Quarterly change (saar) 199'91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index 3-month average remains just below zero Chicago Fed National Activity Index 2. 1.. -1. -2. Three month average -3. -4. -5. Monthly 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16
The Midwest economy has been growing close to trend, a bit better than the national economy Midwest Economy Index 2 1 Relative MEI -1-2 -3-4 -5 Midwest Economy Index (MEI) 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16
The real value of the stock market has reached new highs Index: 199 = 1 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Real S&P 5 stock index 199'91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) expects GDP to grow around trend over the next three years Real gross domestic product percent change from a year earlier 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 FOMC Central Tendency (December 216) 217 1.9 2.3 218 1.8 2.2 219 1.8 2. Longer run 1.8 2. FOMC 199'91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19
The Blue Chip Forecast has GDP rising somewhat above trend this year and next year 8 6 4 2-2 -4-6 -8-1 Real gross domestic product percent Quarterly change (saar) Blue Chip GDP Forecast Actual Forecast 216 217 218 1.9 2.3 2.4 Percent change from a year earlier Q4-216 2 '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18
The path of the current recovery is restrained compared with past deep recession recovery cycles index-business cycle trough = 1 14 135 13 125 12 115 11 15 1 95 Business cycle recovery path average annualized growth: 4.3% average annualized growth: 4.4% 1974-75 1981-82 28-9 average annualized growth: 2.1% -8-6 -4-2 2 4 6 8 1 12 14 16 18 2 22 24 26 28 3 quarters before trough quarters after trough 14 135 13 125 12 115 11 15 1 95
Employment increased by over 2.3 million jobs over the past 12 months Total employment percent 6 4 2-2 -4-6 -8 Percent change from a year earlier Monthly change (saar) 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.8% percent 11 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Unemployment rate 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
The labor force participation rate fell to a level last seen in 1977 percent 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 6 59 58 Labor force participation rate 195 '55 '6 '65 '7 '75 '8 '85 '9 '95 ' '5 '1 '15
Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate and Population Share 16 and Older by Age Category, United States, 27 and 216 Labor Force Participation Rate (%) Population Share (%) Change Change 216 27 7-16 216 27 7-16 Population 16 and older 62.8 66.1-3.3 1. 1.. 16 to 24 55.2 59.4-4.2 15.2 16.1-1. 25 to 34 81.6 83.3-1.8 17.2 17.1. 35 to 44 82.4 83.8-1.3 15.7 18.3-2.6 45 to 54 8. 82. -2. 16.7 18.8-2.1 55 to 64 64.1 63.8.3 16.3 14. 2.3 65 plus 19.3 16. 3.3 18.9 15.6 3.3
The share of those unemployed more than 6 months remains significantly high percent 5 45 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Unemployed for 27 weeks or more 195 '55 '6 '65 '7 '75 '8 '85 '9 '95 ' '5 '1 '15
Employees working part time for economic reasons remains slightly elevated percent 6 5 4 3 2 1 Unemployment rate - part-time workers for economic reasons (3 month moving average) 1994'95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17
Wages and benefit costs continue to increase at a very slow pace Employment cost index percent change from year ago 8 7 benefit costs 6 5 4 3 2 1 wages and salaries 199'91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16
The FOMC forecasts that the unemployment rate will be just below the natural rate through 219 1 9 Unemployment rate percent 11 FOMC Central Tendency (December 216) 217 4.5 4.6 218 4.3 4.7 219 4.3 4.8 8 Longer run 4.7 5. 7 6 5 FOMC 4 3 199'91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19
Slow productivity growth helps explain why relatively strong employment growth has not translated into higher wages percent change (2-qtr ra te) 5 4 3 2 1-1 Productivty 195 '55 '6 '65 '7 '75 '8 '85 '9 '95 ' '5 '1 '15
A large part of the weakness in productivity growth has been the weak pace of investment 2 Real privatenonresidential fixed investment percent 1-1 -2-3 Percent change from a year earlier Quarterly change (saar) 199'91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16
Inflation is low, but moving higher Personal consumption expenditure - chain price index percent change from a year earlier 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16
In large part inflation has been kept low due to the collapse of energy prices dol lars per barrel, 216 dollars 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Real West Texas Intermediate oil price 197 '75 '8 '85 '9 '95 ' '5 '1 '15
Natural gas prices have also declined and remains low dol lars per mmbtu, 216 dollars 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Real natural gas price 1994'95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17
Expenditures on energy are well below the historical average Energy goods and services expenditures as a share of total consumption percent 1 9 8 7 6 6s 7s 8s 196-216 5 4 9s s 1s 3 196 '65 '7 '75 '8 '85 '9 '95 ' '5 '1 '15
Removing the volatile food and energy components from the PCE, core inflation remains low Personal consumption expenditure - less food and energychain price percent change from a year earlier index 5 4 3 2 1 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16
The FOMC anticipates that PCE inflation will be around their two percent target over the next three years Personal consumption expenditure - chain price index percent change from a year earlier 6 5 FOMC Central Tendency (December 216) 217 1.7 2. 218 1.9 2. 219 2. 2.1 4 Longer run 2. 3 2 FOMC 1-1 -2 199 '92 '94 '96 '98 ' '2 '4 '6 '8 '1 '12 '14 '16 '18
The FOMC anticipates that core PCE inflation will reach two percent by 218 Personal consumption expenditure - less food and energychain price percent change from a year earlier index 5 FOMC Central Tendency (December 216) 4 3 217 1.8 1.9 218 1.9 2. 219 2. 2 FOMC 1 199 '92 '94 '96 '98 ' '2 '4 '6 '8 '1 '12 '14 '16 '18
Blue Chip International Consensus Forecasts Inflation Exchange Rate Real GDP % change Against Interest Rates % change Annual US Dollar 3-Month Annual Consumer Prices End of Year End of Year 216 217 218 216 217 218 217 218 217 218 United States 1.6 2.3 2.4 1.3 2.5 2.3 - - 1.1 1.9 Canada 1.2 1.9 1.9 1.5 1.9 1.9 1.33 1.28.84 1.18 Mexico 2.1 1.6 2.2 2.9 4.5 3.7 2.94 2.5 6.38 6.13 Japan.7 1.1.9 -.2.7 1. 117.3 117.6 -.3 -.2 South Korea 2.8 2.6 2.5 1. 1.7 1.8 1,23 1,22 1.37 1.49 United Kingdom 2. 1.4 1.2.7 2.5 2.5 1.2 1.25.41.52 Germany 1.7 1.6 1.6.4 1.8 1.7 1.3 1.5 -.21.15 France 1.2 1.3 1.4.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 -.21.15 Euro Zone 1.6 1.6 1.6.2 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.5 -.21.15 Brazil -3.4.7 2.2 8.7 5.2 5.1 3.43 3.55 11.27 1.6 Russia -.6 1. 1.6 7.2 4.8 4.4 63. 63.7 9.6 8.33 China 6.7 6.4 6. 2. 2.1 2.2 7.15 7.28 3.2 3.55 India 7.3 7.1 7.7 5.1 4.9 5.3 69.3 69.6 6.28 6.28 Blue Chip Economic Indicators Forecast February 1, 217
Manufacturers Purchasing Managers Indexes Fe b-16 Ma r-16 Apr-16 Ma y-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 S e p-16 Oct-16 N ov-16 D e c-16 Ja n-17 Globa l 5. 5.5 5.1 5. 5.4 51. 5.8 51. 52. 52.1 52.7 52.7 U nite d S ta te s 51.3 51.5 5.8 5.7 51.3 52.9 52. 51.5 53.4 54.1 54.3 55. Ca na da 49.4 51.5 52.2 52.1 51.8 51.9 51.1 5.3 51.1 51.5 51.8 53.5 Me xico 53.1 53.2 52.4 53.6 51.1 5.6 5.9 51.9 51.8 51.1 5.2 5.8 E urozone 51.2 51.6 51.7 51.5 52.8 52. 51.7 52.6 53.5 53.7 54.9 55.2 Ge rma ny 5.5 5.7 51.8 52.1 54.5 53.8 53.6 54.3 55. 54.3 55.6 56.4 Fra nce 5.2 49.6 48. 48.4 49.6 48.6 48.3 49.7 51.8 51.7 53.5 53.6 Ita ly 52.2 53.5 53.9 52.4 53.5 51.2 49.8 51. 5.9 52.2 53.2 53. S pa in 54.1 53.4 53.5 51.8 52.2 51. 51. 52.3 53.3 54.5 55.3 55.6 U K 5.8 5.7 49.4 5.4 52.4 48.2 53.3 55.4 54.2 53.6 56.1 55.9 R ussia 49.3 48.3 48. 49.6 51.5 49.5 5.8 51.1 52.4 53.6 53.7 54.7 Ja pa n 5.1 49.1 48.2 47.7 48.1 49.3 49.5 5.4 51.4 51.3 52.4 52.7 China 48. 49.7 49.4 49.2 48.6 5.6 5. 5.1 51.2 5.9 51.9 51. India 51.1 52.4 5.5 5.7 51.7 51.8 52.6 52.1 54.4 52.3 49.6 5.4 Bra zil 44.5 46. 42.6 41.6 43.2 46. 45.7 46. 46.3 46.2 45.2 44.
Over the past couple of years, the real trade-weighted dollar increased by 22% index: March 1973=1 115 11 15 1 95 9 85 8 Trade-weighted exchange value of the U.S. dollar (real) 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
Manufacturing output is flat compared with a year earlier percent 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4 Industrial production - manufacturing Monthly change (saar) Percent change from a year earlier 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
Capacity utilization has been edging lower Capacity utilization- manufacturing percent 86 84 82 8 78 76 74 72 7 68 66 64 62 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
Manufacturing has lost jobs over the past year Manufacturing employment percent 15 1 5-5 -1-15 Percent change from a year earlier -2-25 Monthly change (saar) 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
The Midwest Economy Indexes manufacturing component is near its trend and doing relatively better than the nation Midwest Economy Index: Manufacturing 1..5 Relative MEI. -.5-1. -1.5-2. Midwest Economy Index (MEI) 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16
Light vehicles sales set a record in 216 edging up.4% from 215 Light vehicle sales millionsof units (saar) 22 21 2 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 1 9 8 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
216 light truck sales were 7.3% higher while passenger car sales were 7.9% lower millionsof units (saar) 13 12 11 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 Passenger car and light truck sales light trucks passenger cars 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
Alternative powered vehicles (including hybrids) are a very small fraction of total vehicle sales percent of total sales 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Power-Type Gasoline and Diesel Alternative 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
Alternative powered vehicles (including hybrids) market share barely exceeded 4% and have been declining over the past two years Alternative Powered Vehicles percent of total sales 5 4 3 2 1 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
Vehicle sales are anticipated to edge lower over the next two years 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 1 Vehicle sales millions of units Blue Chip Light-Vehicle Sales Forecast Actual Forecast 216 217 218 17.5 17.4 17.2 198 '85 '9 '95 ' '5 '1 '15
The industrial sector output growth has been improving over the past several months Current 3 Month Moving Average Growth is: Above Trend and Accerating Above Trend and Decelerating Below Trend and Accelerating Below Trend and Decelerating Contracting but Improving Contracting and Deteriorating Manufacturing Industries Activity Chart Growth (3-month moving average) compared with the most recent 5-year trend 5-year Trend 21 211 212 213 214 215 216 Manufacturing 1.% Wood Products 3.3% Nonmetallic Mineral Products 3.5% Primary Metals -1.5% Fabricated Metal Products.4% Machinery -1.3% Computer and Electronic Components 4.2% Electrical Eqpt, Appliances & Components.5% Motor Vehicles and Parts 5.% Aerospace & Misc. Transport Equip 1.6% Furniture and Related Products 1.4% Miscellaneous Durable Goods.9% Food, Beverages, and Tobacco.9% Textile and Product Mills.8% Apparel and Leather Goods -5.1% Paper -.4% Printing and Related Support Activities.2% Chemicals -.7% Petroleum and Coal Products 1.5% Plastics and Rubber Products 1.6%
Industrial production is forecast to improve but expand at a pace below its historical rate Total industrial production percent 1 5 Percent change from a year earlier -5-1 -15-2 -25 Quarterly change (saar) Q4-216 Blue Chip IP Forecast Actual Forecast 216 217 218 -.3 2.3 2.4 2 '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18
The forecast calls for a very gradual recovery in housing Housing starts thousands 2,5 Blue Chip Housing Starts Forecast (thousands) Actual Forecast 216 217 218 1,168 1,263 1,348 2, 1,5 1, 5 198 '85 '9 '95 ' '5 '1 '15
Monetary policy has been very aggressive, keeping the Fed Funds near zero since December 28 percent 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Fed Funds rate 199'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99''1'2'3'4'5'6'7'8'9'1'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
The Federal Funds Rate is expected to reach the neutral rate at the end of 219 percent 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Target Federal Funds Rate FOMC Central Tendency (December 216) 217 1.1 1.6 218 1.9 2.6 219 2.4 3.3 Longer run 2.8 3. FOMC 199'91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 ' '1 '2 '3 '4 '5 '6 '7 '8 '9 '1 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19
Summary The outlook is for the U.S. economy to expand at a pace around trend through 219 Employment growth is expected to slow with the unemployment rate remaining below the natural rate Disappearing slack in the economy will lead to a gradual rising inflation rate Manufacturing output is expected to increase at a rate below its trend in 217 and 218 The housing market is expected to continue improving through 218
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