PHONE: 414-223-1099 TOLL-FREE: 1-800-236-1096
SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT FOR OUR NEXT SHOW

Money Talk Podcast, Friday June 9, 2017

Play

Landaas & Company newsletter  June edition now available.

Advisors on This Week’s Show

Brian Kilb

Kyle Tetting

Steve Giles

(with Max Hoelzl and Joel Dresang)

Week in Review (June 5-9, 2017)

Significant economic indicators & reports

Monday

An ongoing concern since the U.S. recovery from the Great Recession is sluggish labor productivity, which continued in the first quarter. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that productivity was unchanged in the first three months. That was an improvement from an initial estimate that productivity had declined 0.6% on an annual rate. Productivity is key to maintaining the standard of living and raising wages, which fuels economic growth. Year-to-year, productivity increased 1.2% – vs. a 2.1% average since 1947.

A hoped-for comeback in manufacturing received a setback as factory orders decreased in April for the first time in five months. Commercial aircraft led the decline, according to the Commerce Department, although non-transportation orders eked out a monthly gain and remained 5.5% ahead of the year-ago pace. A proxy for business investments rose but remained near recessionary levels. Some economists say greater business investment could help the moribund labor productivity.

Capital orders except defense, aircraft Apr 2017

The larger non-manufacturing sector continued to expand in May. The ISM non-manufacturing index declined slightly from April but stayed above its 12-month average and signaled the 89th consecutive month of growth for service industries. The Institute for Supply Management said the index suggests that the overall economy is growing at a 3.1% annual rate.

Tuesday

The gulf between job openings and employees hired widened in April as employer demand grew to a record high, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than 6 million jobs were advertised in April, the most in 16 years of data. Only in the last couple of years have openings outpaced the level of new hires each month, and in April the difference between the two exceeded 900,000. The gap suggests employers need to invest more in labor-saving technology, increase training or raise wages to attract the workers they need.

Job openings_hires Apr 2017

Wednesday

The Federal Reserve reported that growth in credit card debt slowed in April, suggesting that Americans were more hesitant about spending. So-called revolving credit expanded by $1.5 billion from March, less than one-third of the previous month’s gain. Consumer spending drives about 70% of U.S. economic activity. The bulk of consumer credit – non-revolving credit, including student loans and automotive financing – expanded at the lowest rate in six years.

Thursday

The moving four-week average of initial unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row and the fourth time in six weeks. Still, new jobless applications remain 32% below the 50-year average, according to the Labor Department. A persistently low level of claims suggests employers remain reluctant to let workers go, which should build pressure for higher wages and increased consumer spending.

Friday

The level wholesale inventories declined in April for the first time in four months slightly faster than sales fell. The Commerce Department reported that the ratio of inventories to sales remained unchanged for the fourth month in a row, leveling off at about the ratio reached at the end of the Great Recession. Companies have been trying to bring that ratio down to better align supply and demand so they can operate more leanly. The ratio climbed to a post-recession peak in January 2016.

Where the Markets Closed for the Week

  • Nasdaq – 6,208, down 98 points or 1.6%
  • Standard & Poor’s 500 – 2,432, down 7 points or 0.3%
  • 10-year U.S. Treasury Note – 2.2%, up 0.04 point
  • Dow Jones Industrial– 21,271, up 65 points or 0.3%

Send us a question for our next podcast.
More information and insight from Money Talk
Money Talk Videos
Follow us on Twitter.
Landaas newsletter subscribers return to the newsletter via e-mail.


Text Size:  A  A  reset

No client or potential client should assume that any information presented or made available on or through this website should be construed as personalized financial planning or investment advice. Personalized financial planning and investment advice can be rendered only after engagement of the firm for services, execution of the required documentation, and receipt of required disclosures.
Landaas & Company performs investment advisory services only in those states where it is licensed, or excluded or exempted from state investment advisor licensing requirements. All responses to inquiries made by prospective customers to this internet site will not be made absent compliance with state investment advisor and investment advisor rep licensing requirements, or applicable exemptions or exclusions from licensing.
Please contact the firm for more information.
MEMBER FINRA MEMBER SIPC MSRB REGISTRANT

Powered By: mindspike design
ADDRESS: 411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE, 20TH FLOOR MILWAUKEE, WI 53202
© 2024 Landaas & Company