Deflation Probabilities – February 11, 2016 Update

While I do not agree with the current readings of the measure – I think the measure dramatically understates the probability of deflation, as measured by the CPI – the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta maintains an interesting data series titled “Deflation Probabilities.” As stated on the site: Using estimates derived from Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities …

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The February 2016 Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Survey

The February 2016 Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Survey was published on February 11, 2016.  The headline is “WSJ Survey:  Economists Lower Growth Estimates Amid Rising Recession Risk.”  As indicated in the article, 69 economists were surveyed, although not every economist answered every question. I found numerous items to be notable – although I don’t …

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Chicago Fed National Financial Conditions Index (NFCI)

The St. Louis Fed’s Financial Stress Index (STLFSI) is one index that is supposed to measure stress in the financial system.  Its reading as of the February 4, 2016 update (reflecting data through January 29) is -.484. Of course, there are a variety of other measures and indices that are supposed to measure financial stress and other related …

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The Employment-Population Ratio

In the August 11, 2010 post (“Employment-Population Ratio – Chart And Comments“) I featured a chart of the Employment-Population Ratio and brief commentary. For those unaware of this measure, a description is seen in the February 3, 2014 Liberty Street Economics post titled “A Mis-Leading Labor Market Indicator“: The employment-population (E/P) ratio frequently is used as …

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Monthly Changes In Total Nonfarm Payrolls

For reference purposes, below are three charts that display growth in payroll employment. The first chart is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) February 8, 2016 The Economics Daily (TED) post titled “Payroll employment up 151,000 in January 2016.”  It shows, as stated, “Over-the-month change in (total) payroll employment” from January 2006-January 2016: The …

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Building Financial Danger – February 8, 2016 Update

My overall analysis indicates a continuing elevated and growing level of financial danger which contains many worldwide and U.S.-specific “stresses” of a very complex nature. I have written numerous posts in this site concerning both ongoing and recent “negative developments.”  These developments, as well as other exceedingly problematic conditions, have presented a highly perilous economic environment …

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Average Hourly Earnings Trends

I have written many blog posts concerning the worrisome trends in income and earnings. Along these lines, one of the measures showing disconcerting trends is that of hourly earnings. While the concept of hourly earnings can be defined and measured in a variety of ways, below are a few charts that I believe broadly illustrate problematic …

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U-3 And U-6 Unemployment Rate Long-Term Reference Charts As Of February 5, 2016

Shortly after each monthly employment report I have been posting a continual series titled “3 Critical Unemployment Charts.” Of course, there are many other employment charts that can be displayed as well. For reference purposes, below are the U-3 and U-6 Unemployment Rate charts from a long-term historical perspective.  Both charts are from the St. …

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