economics news : Speed bumps and knock out drops ...

Good news for the economy continued this week.
A fall in the rate of unemployment AND an increase in output and orders for the construction industry. Who would believe it was just a few months ago headlines were devoted to the risk of a triple dip recession? The year is becoming a tale of two halves with a significant pick up in activity and sentiment into the third quarter. Get ready, we are leaving Planet ZIRP.

Speed bumps in the housing market
It is a strange recovery with strange roles in evidence. The Bank of England is hoping to keep base rates on hold for three years. The RICS warned this week of the need to maintain a stable and sustainable path for house prices.

“We suggest setting an annual growth rate threshold in a national index, which if exceeded, triggers tighter macro prudential policy” said Josh Miller Senior Economist in the RICS report.

The RICS is advocating “speed bumps” to limit the rate of price increases. The Bank of England (in the form of the FPC) should intervene to regulate mortgage allocations of LTV ratios across the UK if prices moved over 5%. That sort of thing.

“Taking away the punch bowl as the party gets started” is the traditional role of the central banker. Now some of the heavy drinkers are suggesting, we dilute the hooch. How strange.

Most commentators have reacted badly to the suggestion. Why 5%? Is there a regional variation? Is it the same for maisonettes and mansions? Should the government confiscate revenues where prices exceed the guidelines? Are the RICS advocating a prices and incomes board, monitored by the RICS perhaps?

Graeme Leach at the IOD has suggested it is a “statist solution to a state created problem”. Calm down Graeme, it was just for fun and not to be taken too seriously. The FPC is to meet this week. Top of the agenda will be the need to limit loan to value ratios. The government “homes for heroes” scheme, (the scheme in which the tax payer underwrites high loan values for house buyers) will be on the agenda no doubt.

Unemployment
The unemployment rate ticked down in July to 7.7% in July. The claimant count fell to 4.2% in August. The number of claimants - down by 32,000 to 1.4 million. Further indicators the recovery is on track, towards trend rate of growth, into the final quarter.

What does this mean for forward guidance? The models still suggest it will be the end of 2015 at least before the 7% threshold will be reached. That is the rate at which the MPC will begin to think about base rate rises, (speed bumps and knock out drops aside).

The caveat about earnings continues. The recovery cannot be sustained without a change in household fortunes, either lower inflation or higher earnings growth is required. Plus, the UK cannot grow at a faster rate then Europe for too long, without the trade deficit coming under severe pressure. The trade deficit, of itself, “a speed bump or pothole”, where growth is concerned.
 
Construction
Good news on construction. Output increased in July by 2% compared to July last year.  Orders for new work, especially in the housing market, were up by 33% compared to the same time last year. This is an important change indicator for the sector.

Overall the growth in services continues. The recovery in manufacturing and construction will look much stronger into the final quarter of the year. The UK recovery is on track. It is just over eighteen months to the election. Buckle up, we are leaving Planet ZIRP. Gilts are already in low orbit.

What happened to sterling?
Sterling responded to the economics news, moving up against the dollar and also against the Euro. The pound closed at $1.5871 from $1.5627 and at €1.1940 from €1.1860 against the euro. The dollar moved up against the yen closing at ¥99.4 from ¥99.0

Oil Price Brent Crude closed at $111 from $114. The average price in September last year was almost $113. We expect oil to average $112 in the current quarter, with no real inflationary impact.

Markets, rallied - The Dow closed up at 15,376 from 14,923. The FTSE closed up at 6,584 from 6,547. The Fed statement this month will mark the larger DOW move. Still a good time to move in? The FTSE will clear 7000 within ten weeks and the DOW will press 16,000.

UK Ten year gilt yields closed at 2.94 from 2.95, US Treasury yields closed at 2.89 from 2.93. Long rates are decoupling from shorts, returning to fair value. They are just a bit reluctant to leave!

Gold closed at $1,312 from $1,388. The bulls have it or do they? Some still worry about tapering.

That’s all for this week, don’t miss The Sunday Times and Croissants out tomorrow.

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