The Fed’s latest beige book, perhaps the most boring report released by the Federal Reserve, found 10 of the 12 Fed districts growing at the now ubiquitous “modest or moderate pace” with Cleveland growing only slightly and New York reporting little change for the fourth period in a row. However, despite stagnant growth, margin pressures are building as input prices are rising faster than final goods prices.
The good news for US workers is that according to the Fed, labor market conditions remained tight in the majority of the districts. Employment growth ranged from slight to moderate and most Districts indicated that wages increased modestly. A couple of Districts mentioned layoffs, but even in those Districts, as in other regions, most responding firms were said to have added employment, on net. District reports cited widespread difficulties in finding workers for skilled positions; several also noted problems recruiting for less-killed jobs. Wages in some Districts were pushed up a bit by increases in the states’ minimum wages and most Districts said wage pressures had increased. The Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Atlanta Fed districts reported further tightening in their labor markets over the period, with wage pressures likely to rise and the pace of hiring to hold steady or increase.
Manufacturing activity appeared to be robust at the end of 2016 into the new year.
“Manufacturers in most Districts reported increased sales with several citing turnaround versus earlier in 2016,” the Beige Book said. However, manufacturing activity in Cleveland remained steady due to a seasonal decline in new orders. On the other hand, manufacturers in Cleveland reported a break in layoffs.”
Software and IT services firms in Boston reported watching the resurging dollar to see if it affects their clients’ interests in the manufacturing sector. Dallas, St. Louis and San Francisco manufacturing sectors echoed these concerns, though the Boston Fed reported foreign investment in commercial real estate in the district unaffected by an appreciating dollar.
The bad news is that any increase in wages is being offset by rising prices as pricing pressures intensified somewhat since the last report. Eight out of twelve Districts saw modest price increases and the remainder experienced slight increases, or flat prices in the case of the Atlanta District. Increases in input costs were more widespread than increases in final goods prices. Cost increases were reported for coal, natural gas, and selected building and manufacturing materials. Retailers’ selling prices were mixed, but on balance were flat or down amidst competitive discounting. Prices of most agricultural commodities stayed flat at very low levels. Home prices were stable or up modestly. Businesses in several districts reportedly expect further modest increases in input costs and selling prices in 2017.
And while the number of mentions of “uncertain” declined from 15 in November, to only 6 in Januar, concerns remains over policy changes in the incoming administration.
The Fed also said most districts said non-auto retail sales expanded, but that several districts noted holiday sales were disappointing. New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Dallas reported disappointing or slugglish consumer spending or retail spending through November and December.
But the most troubling news revolves around the threat to corporate margins because despite the “modest, moderate” growth, margin pressures were said to be building as input prices rose faster than final goods prices. Cost increases were reported for coal, natural gas, and selected building and manufacturing materials. At the same time, retailers’ selling prices were mixed, but on balance were flat or down amidst competitive discounting.
We wonder how long before the Trumpflation rally has some variant of “stag” before it?
via http://ift.tt/2iS1Of6 Tyler Durden