PCE Price Index + Personal Income + Consumer Spending Report for September 2024

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its report on The PCE Price Index, Consumer Spending and Personal Income for  September, 2024:

=============

Consumer Spending (Personal Consumption Expenditures)

Previous Reading: +0.3%

• Actual: +0.5%
  

• Actual: (2017 Chained* Dollars): +0.4%

=============

Personal Income

Previous Reading: +0.2%

• Actual: +0.3%

=============

• Disposable Personal Income (DPI), Now Dollars: +0.3%

• DPI (2017 Chained* Dollars): +0.1%

=============

The above highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in Consumer Spending (aka Personal Consumption Expenditures), Personal Income and Disposable Personal Income for the entire United States.

=============

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index
Previous Reading: +0.1%

• Actual: +0.2% 

• Change from 12 months previous: +2.1%

=====================

Core PCE Price Index
( = PCE Price Index minus food and energy)
Previous Reading: +0.2%

• Actual: +0.3%

• Change from 12 months previous: +2.7%

=====================

The yellow-highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in the prices associated with domestic personal consumption.  The PCE Price Index is different from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in that it is a very broad measure of the prices associated with domestic products and services, while the CPI measures a more limited fixed basket of goods and services.

The broad nature of the PCE Price Index is key to why it is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation.  The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) pays very close attention to it.

=====================

The "predicted" figures are what economists were expecting, while the "actual" figures are the true or real figure.

=====================

Click here to view the full
Commerce Department report (PDF). 

===================== 

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Video:
What Is Personal Income?
============

* =  Chained dollars is a method of adjusting real dollar amounts for inflation over time, so as to allow comparison of figures from different years. The Commerce Department introduced the chained-dollar measure in 1996. Chained dollars generally reflect dollar figures computed with 2012 as the base year.

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Employment Situation Report for October 2024

The Employment Situation Report for October 2024 was released by The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning:

Nonfarm Payrolls (month-to-month change)
Actual: +12,000

Previous Month (Revised): 223,000
One Year Previous: 165,000

U-3 Unemployment Rate (Headline)
Actual: 4.1%
Previous Month: 4.1%
12 Months Previous: 3.8%

U-6 Unemployment Rate*
Actual: 7.7%
Previous Month: 7.7%
12 Months Previous: 7.2%

Average Hourly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +0.4%
Actual: +0.37% (+$0.13)

Average Hourly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Predicted: +4.1%
Actual: +3.99% (+$1.36)

Average Weekly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Actual: +0.37% (+$4.46)

Average Weekly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Actual: +3.99% (+$46.65)

Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate: 62.6%
Previous Month: 62.7%
12 Months Previous: 62.7%

Average Workweek: 34.3 hours
Previous Month: 34.3 hours
One Year Previous: 34.3 hours

Economist, academics, central bankers and investors pay very close attention to the monthly Employment Situation report as it offers penetrating insight as to the current and near-future state of the overall U.S. economy. If a) Americans are earning more money and b) the economy is creating new jobs, this typically translates to more money being pumped into the economy (and vice versa.)

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

===================

CHART: Civilian Unemployment Rate
OCTOBER 2004 THRU OCTOBER 2024

   ===================

 * =  The U-6 Unemployment Rate is defined as:

"Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force."

===================

• Click here to view the full Department of Labor report.

===================

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Challenger Job Cuts Report for October 2024

The global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc. released its job cuts report, for October 2024:

-------------------------------

Job Cuts Announced During October 2024: 55,597

• Previous month: 72,821
• Change from previous month: -23.65% (-17,224 cuts)

• One-Year Previous: 36,836 

• Change from one year previous: +50.9% (+18,761 cuts)

-------------------------------

If corporate layoffs are high, consumer spending may decline, since there would be fewer people with steady jobs.

When corporate layoffs are low, this can mean that the job market is relatively tight, which can be a harbinger of wage inflation.

================

Challenger Report - Announced Jobs Cuts
October 2024 UPDATE

================

Challenger Report - Month by Month TOTALS
October 2024 UPDATE
================

 Job Cuts by INDUSTRY
YTD 2023 Thru YTD 2024
October 2024 UPDATE

   ================

• Click here to read the full Challenger, Gray and Christmas report

    ================

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Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for October 2024

Consumer Confidence Index® (CCI) for this month (October, 2024) was released by The Conference Board® this morning:

================

Predicted: 99.0

• Actual: 108.7

================

Previous Month (revised): 99.2

• Change from Previous Month: +9.58% (+9.5 points)
  

================

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

From Today's Report:

"...Confidence Rebounded in October as Consumers Regained Faith in the US Economy
'Consumer confidence recorded the strongest monthly gain since March 2021, but still did not break free of the narrow range that has prevailed over the past two years,' said Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board®. 'In October’s reading, all five components of the Index improved. Consumers’ assessments of current business conditions turned positive. Views on the current availability of jobs rebounded after several months of weakness, potentially reflecting better labor market data. Compared to last month, consumers were substantially more optimistic about future business conditions and remained positive about future income. Also, for the first time since July 2023, they showed some cautious optimism about future job availability.

'October’s increase in confidence was broad-based across all age groups and most income groups. In terms of age, confidence rose sharpest for consumers aged 35 to 54. On a six-month moving average basis, householders aged under 35 and those earning over $100K remained the most confident.'

Peterson added: 'The proportion of consumers anticipating a recession over the next 12 months dropped to its lowest level since the question was first asked in July 2022, as did the percentage of consumers believing the economy was already in recession. Consumers’ assessments of their Family’s Current Financial Situation were unchanged, but optimism for the next six months reached a series high. (These measures are not included in calculating the Consumer Confidence Index®).'..."

================

Every month, The Conference Board sends a questionnaire to 5,000 U.S. households. Survey participants are polled about their feelings regarding the U.S. economy, current and future, and about their own fiscal circumstances. On average, 3,500 participants complete and return the 5-question survey.

• The baseline "100" score for the CCI is associated with 1985 survey data.

When consumers feel good about the economy, they tend to do more spending, and vice versa.

Based in New York City, The Conference Board is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to, "create and disseminate knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society."

The CCI is usually released on the last Tuesday of the month.

================  

CHART: Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)
OCTOBER 2024 Update

========================================

• Click here to view the full Conference Board report.

=========================================

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Existing Home Sales During September 2024

Existing Home Sales report for September 2024 was released by The National Association of Realtors® (NAR®) this morning:

======================

Previous Month: 3,880,000

• Actual: 3,840,000

======================

•  Change from Previous Month: -1.03% (-40,000 homes)
  
  
•  Change from A Year Ago: -3.52% (-140,000 homes)

==========

Inventory: 1,390,000 (4.3 months supply.)

==========

The yellow-highlighted, "actual" figure above represents the preliminary, seasonally adjusted annualized sales count of existing homes, co-ops and condominiums for the indicated month. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

------------------------------------------------------

• Median Price: $404,500
  
  
• Price Change from A Year Ago: +3.00% (+$11,800)

------------------------------------------------------ 

==========

• Click here for historical prices and a chart.
  
  
• Click here for New Home Sales Data.

==========

From Today's Report:

"...'Home sales have been essentially stuck at around a four-million-unit pace for the past 12 months, but factors usually associated with higher home sales are developing,' said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. 'There are more inventory choices for consumers, lower mortgage rates  than a year ago and continued job additions to the economy. Perhaps, some consumers are hesitating about moving forward with a major expenditure like purchasing a home before the upcoming election.'

'More inventory is certainly good news for home buyers as it gives consumers more properties to view before making a decision,” Yun said. 'However, the inventory of distressed properties is minimal because the mortgage delinquency rate remains very low. Distressed property sales accounted for only 2% of all transactions in September.'..."

==================

CHART: Cost of A Used Home
September 2024 UPDATE

==================

==================

• Click here to view the NAR data.

==================

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Leading Economic Index for September 2024

Recently, the Conference Board® released its Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for September 2024:

==============

Index for September 2024: 99.7 (The baseline 100 score is associated with 2016 data.)

==============

Predicted: -0.4%

• Actual: -0.5% (-0.5 point Month-on-Month)
  
  
• Change from 12 Months Ago: -4.78% (-5.0 points)

==============

• LEI for August 2024: 100.2
  
  
• LEI for July 2024: 100.5
  
  
• LEI for June 2024: 101.0
  
  
• LEI for May 2024: 101.3
  
  
• LEI for April 2024: 101.7
   
• LEI for March 2024: 102.4
  
  
• LEI for February 2024: 102.6
   
• LEI for January 2024: 102.6
  
  
• LEI for December 2023: 103.1
  
  
• LEI for November 2023: 103.3
  
  
• LEI for October 2023: 103.8
  
  
• LEI for September 2023: 104.7
  
  
• LEI for August 2023: 105.5
  
  
• LEI for July 2023: 105.9
  
  
• LEI for June 2023: 106.1
  
  
• LEI for May 2023: 106.7
  
  
• LEI for April 2023: 107.4
  
  
• LEI for March 2023: 108.3
  
  
• LEI for February 2023: 109.6
  
  
• LEI for January 2023: 110.2
  
  
• LEI for December 2022: 110.7
  
  
• LEI for November 2022: 111.5
  
  
• LEI for October 2022: 112.5
  
  
• LEI for September 2022: 113.5
  
  
• LEI for August 2022: 116.4
  
  
• LEI for July 2022: 116.4
  
  
• LEI for June 2022: 117.1
  
  
• LEI for May 2022: 117.9
  
  
• LEI for April 2022: 118.7
  
  
• LEI for March 2022: 119.3
  
  
• LEI for February 2022: 119.4
  
  
• LEI for January 2022: 118.5
  

==============

The yellow-highlighted percentage is the month-to-month change for the index.  The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The LEI is a composite of 10 of the nation's economic data releases that's put together by The Conference Board. Statistically, the components listed below have shown a significant increase or decrease before national economic upturns or downturns:

1. The Standard + Poor's 500 Index
   
   
2. Average weekly claims for unemployment insurance
   
   
3. Building permits for new private housing
   
   
4. The interest rate spread between the yield on the benchmark 10-Year Treasury Note and Federal Funds
   
   
5. ISM® Index of New Orders
   
   
6. Manufacturer's new orders for consumer goods or materials
   
   
7. Manufacturers' new orders, non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft orders
   
   
8. Average weekly manufacturing hours
   
   
9. Average consumer expectations for business conditions
   
   
10. Leading Credit Index™

==============

CHART: Leading Economic Index
6-Month Growth Rate
with Warning + Recession Signals
SEPTEMBER 2024 UPDATE

==============

 

From Today's Report:

"...'Weakness in factory new orders continued to be a major drag on the US LEI in September as the global manufacturing slump persists,' said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, Senior Manager, Business Cycle Indicators, at The Conference Board.

'Additionally, the yield curve remained inverted, building permits declined, and consumers’ outlook for future business conditions was tepid. Gains among other LEI components were not significant enough to offset weakness among the four gauges mentioned above.

Overall, the LEI continued to signal uncertainty for economic activity ahead and is consistent with The Conference Board expectation for moderate growth at the close of 2024 and into early 2025.'..."

==============
 

• Click Here to view the Conference Board report.
  

==============

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Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for September2024

Here is the Producer Price Index - Final Demand (PPI-FD) for September 2024:

===============================

Previous Month: +0.2%

• Actual: FLAT

Change from 12 months previous:  +1.8%  (prior = +1.7%)

Below is the PPI-FD when food, energy and trade services are removed:

Previous Month: +0.3%

• Actual: +0.2%

Change from 12 months previous:  +3.2%  (prior = +3.3%)

===============================

The above, yellow-highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in prices received by domestic producers of goods and services, for goods, services and construction in the United States, for final demand.

Final Demand = personal consumption (consumers), exports, government purchases and capital investment.

The PPI-FD is released by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

 ==============

CHART: Producer Price Index
  Final Demand (PPI-FD)
12-Month Percent Change
SEPTEMBER 2024 Update

==============

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.

==============

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September 2024

Earlier this morning, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September 2024:

=========================================

CPI During September 2024: 315.301

=========================================

Consumer Price Index, Headline

Predicted: +0.5%

->  Actual: +0.16% (+0.505 point) M/M

 > Year-on-Year Change: +2.44 %(+7.512 points)

=========================================

Consumer Price Index, Minus Food + Energy (Core CPI)

Predicted: +0.5%

 - > Actual: +0.34% (+1.092 points) M/M

> Year-on-Year Change: +3.31% (+10.292 points)

=========================================

The above, yellow-highlighted figures represent month-to-month change (not seasonally adjusted) in prices for a specific group of goods and services that consumers buy, and is, therefore, a very important part of the overall inflation picture for the country.

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

General categories that constitute the CPI are:

• Healthcare
• Housing
• Clothing
• Communications
• Education
• Transportation
• Food and Beverages
• Recreation
• Miscellaneous Goods and Services (grooming expenses, etc.)

========================================

CPI During September 2023: 307.789

=======================================

CHART: Consumer Price Index
12-Month Percentage Change
SEPTEMBER 2024 Update

========================================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report.
  

=========================================

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Crude Oil Inventories Report for Week of October 4, 2024

Crude Oil Inventories

The U.S. Crude Oil Inventories report for the week that ended on October 4, 2024 was released this morning:

-- Change from Last Week: +5,800,000 Barrels

-- Change from A Year Ago (Y/Y): -1,500,000 Barrels

-- Current U.S. Crude Oil Stocks: 422,700,000 Barrels

Diminishing crude oil inventories often translate to higher crude oil and fuel prices (and vice versa), but not always.

The report is produced by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

• Click Here for the Weekly Crude Oil Price
  
  

• Click Here for A Crude Oil Price Chart
  
  
• Click Here for the Full Week in Petroleum report
  

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Challenger Job Cuts Report for September 2024

The global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc. released its job cuts report, for September 2024:

-------------------------------

Job Cuts Announced During September 2024: 72,821

• Previous month: 75,891

• Change from previous month: -4.05% (-3,070 cuts)

• Change from one year previous: +53.45% (+25,364 cuts)
  

-------------------------------

If corporate layoffs are high, consumer spending may decline, since there would be fewer people with steady jobs.

When corporate layoffs are low, this can mean that the job market is relatively tight, which can be a harbinger of wage inflation.
 

================

Challenger Report - Announced Jobs Cuts
September 2024 UPDATE

================

Challenger Report - Month by Month TOTALS
September 2024 UPDATE
================

• Click here to read the full Challenger, Gray and Christmas report

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Employment Situation Report for September 2024

The Employment Situation Report for September 2024 was released by The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning:

Nonfarm Payrolls (month-to-month change)
Actual: +254,000

Previous Month (Revised): 159,000
One Year Previous: 246,000

U-3 Unemployment Rate (Headline)
Actual: 4.1%
Previous Month: 4.2%
12 Months Previous: 3.8%

U-6 Unemployment Rate*
Actual: 7.7%
Previous Month: 7.9%
12 Months Previous: 7.0%

Average Hourly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Predicted: +0.4%
Actual: +0.37% (+$0.13)

Average Hourly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Predicted: +4.1%
Actual: +3.97% (+$1.35)

Average Weekly Earnings (month-to-month change)
Actual: +0.08% (+$0.92)

Average Weekly Earnings (year-on-year change)
Actual: +3.37% (+$39.37)

Civilian Labor Force Participation Rate: 62.7%
Previous Month: 62.7%
12 Months Previous: 62.8%

Average Workweek: 34.2 hours
Previous Month: 34.3 hours
One Year Previous: 34.4 hours

Economist, academics, central bankers and investors pay very close attention to the monthly Employment Situation report as it offers penetrating insight as to the current and near-future state of the overall U.S. economy. If a) Americans are earning more money and b) the economy is creating new jobs, this typically translates to more money being pumped into the economy (and vice versa.)

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

===================

CHART: Civilian Unemployment Rate
SEPTEMBER 2004 THRU SEPTEMBER 2024

   ===================

 * =  The U-6 Unemployment Rate is defined as:

"Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force."

===================

• Click here to view the full Department of Labor report.

===================

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PCE Price Index + Personal Income + Consumer Spending Report for August 2024

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its report on The PCE Price Index, Consumer Spending and Personal Income for  August, 2024:

=============

Consumer Spending (Personal Consumption Expenditures)

Previous Reading: +0.5%

• Actual: +0.2%
  

• Actual: (2017 Chained* Dollars): +0.1%

=============

Personal Income

Previous Reading: +0.3%

• Actual: +0.2%

=============

• Disposable Personal Income (DPI), Now Dollars: +0.2%

• DPI (2017 Chained* Dollars): +0.1%

=============

The above highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in Consumer Spending (aka Personal Consumption Expenditures), Personal Income and Disposable Personal Income for the entire United States.

=============

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index
Previous Reading: +0.2%

• Actual: +0.1% 

• Change from 12 months previous: +2.2%

=====================

Core PCE Price Index
( = PCE Price Index minus food and energy)
Previous Reading: +0.2%

• Actual: +0.1%

• Change from 12 months previous: +2.7%

=====================

The yellow-highlighted percentages represent the month-to-month change in the prices associated with domestic personal consumption.  The PCE Price Index is different from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in that it is a very broad measure of the prices associated with domestic products and services, while the CPI measures a more limited fixed basket of goods and services.

The broad nature of the PCE Price Index is key to why it is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation.  The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) pays very close attention to it.

=====================

The "predicted" figures are what economists were expecting, while the "actual" figures are the true or real figure.

=====================

Click here to view the full
Commerce Department report (PDF). 

===================== 

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Video:
What Is Personal Income?
============

* =  Chained dollars is a method of adjusting real dollar amounts for inflation over time, so as to allow comparison of figures from different years. The Commerce Department introduced the chained-dollar measure in 1996. Chained dollars generally reflect dollar figures computed with 2012 as the base year.

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New Home Sales During August, 2024

The August, 2024 New Home Sales report was released by the Commerce Department this morning:

------------------------------------------------------

Previous Month (revised): 751,000

• Actual New Home Sales: 716,000

------------------------------------------------------

• Change from 1 Month Previous: -35,000 units (-4.66%)
  
  
• Change from 1 Year Previous: +64,000 units (+9.82%)

------------------------------------------------------

Median Price for a New Home
During August, 2024: $420,600
 

***************************

Average Price for a New Home
During August, 2024: $492,700

------------------------------------------------------

Inventory: 467,000 (7.8 months supply at current sales rate; seasonally‐adjusted estimate.)

------------------------------------------------------

================================

CHART: New Home Sales
AUGUST, 2024 Update

================================

• Click Here for Historical Prices and a Price Chart.
  
  
• Click Here for Existing Home Sales Prices and a Chart.

================================

Compiled jointly by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the yellow-highlighted figure above is the seasonally adjusted and annualized number of newly-built homes with committed buyers for the indicated month.

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

The New Home Sales report is watched by economists and investors because it offers insight into the state of the U.S. housing market, and also provides data that can be used to predict sales of large household furniture and appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.


================================

• Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF)
  
  

================================

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New Unemployment Insurance Claims for The Week of September 14, 2024

Jobless Claims

Earlier today, the Labor Department released its weekly report on New Jobless Insurance Claims for the week that ended on September 14, 2024:

====================

Predicted: 220,000

• Actual: 219,000

====================

The yellow-highlighted figure represents the number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits for the entire United States. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

• Previous Week (revised): 231,000

• 4-Week Moving Average: 227,500

====================

• Click here to view the full Labor Department report

====================

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