Persona income for June was up 0.2% compared to a Bloomberg Consensus Estimate of 0.3% in a range of 0.3% to 0.5%. Spending rose 0.4% vs a consensus of 0.3% in range of 0.2% to 0.5%.
Highlights
The consumer continues to spend though income isn’t that strong. Personal income, for a second month in a row, inched 0.2 percent higher in June, in contrast to spending which, also for a second month in a row, rose 0.4 percent. The gain in spending was funded to a degree by savings as the savings rate is down 2 tenths to 5.3 percent.
There isn’t much positive movement in inflation data with both the overall PCE index and the core index (ex-food ex-energy) up only 0.1 percent. Year-on-year shows no improvement at all with the overall rate unchanged at plus 0.9 percent and unchanged at plus 1.6 percent for the core.
Turning back to income, wages & salaries did improve a bit, up 1 tenth for a plus 0.3 percent gain. Details on spending show an outsized 0.7 percent increase in nondurables in a gain, however, tied in part to higher oil prices, not increased demand. Service spending rose a very solid 0.5 percent for a second straight month while durable goods fell 0.3 percent in June following a 0.4 percent decline in May, both reflecting weak vehicle sales. Durable goods are a sleeper here for July, possibly bouncing back should vehicle sales prove strong (July unit vehicle sales will be posted through the day).
This report is moderate. The strength in spending needs to continue for the economy but spending won’t have much legs if income doesn’t pick up.
Report Weaker Than Bloomberg Paints
Bloomberg puts a “moderate” label on what a look at actual table data from the BEA Personal Income and Outlays Report shows to be weak.
PCE Price Index Year-Over Year
PCE Month-Over Month
Durable goods prices are down 0.7% from last month and 1.8% from a year ago as incentives required to sell cars increase.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
