Morning Report: Trade tensions and construction employment

Vital Statistics:

			Last	Change
S&P futures			2633	-10
Eurostoxx index			370.87	1.61
Oil (WTI)			64.92	0
10 Year Government Bond Yield				2.77%
30 Year fixed rate mortgage				4.45%

Stocks are lower this morning after investors come back from the long Easter weekend. Bonds and MBS are up.

The big event will be the jobs report on Friday. The Street is looking for 167,000 jobs, which seems small, however weather-related effects in the Northeast and Midwest are undoubtedly driving some of that. The consensus for wage growth is 0.2% MOM and 2.7% YOY. This number is the one that matters the most as far as the bond market. Until the report bonds will probably take their cue from the equities market, zigging when stocks zag. 

Inflationary pressures can come from strange places. In the US, spot trucking freight rates are up 28% as driver shortages and new technology limit hours. So far, retailers and producers have not passed this cost on to consumers, but at some point they will. Even long-term rates, which are more stable than spot rates, are up 12%. Note that this is with moderate diesel prices - it isn't fuel driven. 

Trade tensions with China are increasing, as the Chinese imposed some restrictions on US agricultural exports which kick in today. China is urging more trade talks to prevent further damage. A trade war will have a push-pull effect on the US economy: on one hand, higher tariffs on imported goods will increase inflation, however trade wars also act as a damper on economic activity which should keep the Fed at bay. Since inflation remains well below the Fed's target I suspect they will focus more on the depressing effects on a trade war than they will on the potential inflationary pressures of one. 

The Fed studied how student loan debt impacts homeownership and found that as student loan debt increases, the person's likelihood of owning a home decreases. This shouldn't be much of a surprise, but it does show that the increase in salary from having a college education isn't offsetting the increase in debt, at least when you look at debt to income ratios. 

For new graduates looking for a job, head to the Midwest. There are more job openings there than there are unemployed workers. 

Construction spending increased 0.1% MOM and 3% YOY in February, according to Census. This was a touch below consensus. Residential construction increased 0.1% MOM and 5% YOY.  The National Association of Homebuilders conducted a study on where the construction workers are in the US, and unsurprisingly most of them are out West, where the fastest growth appears to be. 

Manufacturing eased slightly in March, according to the ISM report, however it is still quite strong. The potential tariffs are beginning to concern businesses. One quote from the report: “Much concern in the industry regarding the steel and aluminum tariffs recently [imposed]. This is causing panic buying, driving the near-term prices higher and [leading to] inventory shortages for non-contract customers.” (Machinery). Others mentioned it will take a few weeks to gauge the impact of tariffs. That said, the reading of 59.3 is usually associated with real GDP growth pushing 5%, so it is still a strong report despite the decrease.