Since the beginning of September, the GDPNow and Nowcast GDP model forecasts have been unusually steady. And they have converged at just under two percent.
This is despite a slew of bad reports as noted in Manufacturing Alarm Bells Ring on Unexpected Weakness.
- Boeing: This isn’t new news, but it is reflective of Boeing’s 737 MAX problems. The WSJ reports Airbus is Set to Overtake Boeing to become the world’s largest plane maker by deliveries.
- GM: On Day 38 of the strike, the WSJ reports UAW Workers Are Tilting in Favor of New Contract With GM 46,000 GM workers who have gone without a company paycheck for six weeks. GM promised sweeteners such as plant investments and escalated pay. But what if sales flounder?
- Ford: There was no strike at Ford. But yesterday, the Detroit Free Press reported Ford Earnings Dip 57%. The company blamed warranty costs, China, and incentives. CNBC reported Ford’s Shares Slide on Lower Year-End Guidance, Weak Demand in China.
- Caterpillar: CNBC reports Caterpillar Earnings Badly Miss the Street, Cuts Forecast Again
- China: Trump’s trade war with china is taking a toll. Every company above is impacted in some way. So is Apple and many other manufactures.
- EU: Trump is also feuding with the EU and threatens tariffs on German cars. Meanwhile, the EU and UK still have not sorted out Brexit.
GDP Model Forecasts
- GDPNow Base: 1.8% (Oct 24)
- GDPNow Real Final Sales: 1.7% (Oct 24)
- Nowcast: 1.9% (Oct 18, New Report Oct 25)
Real Final Sales is the GDPNow bottom line estimate for the economy. The rest is inventory adjustment which nets to zero over time.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
With the mess at Boeing and the GM strike, I think 2% is pretty good economic growth. The economy continues to grow, wages are going up and unemployment is at a historical low. I believe that GNP is constrained by a lack of qualified employees. We need to get workforce participation higher.
“The economy continues to grow,”
…
barely. for now. and will growth be revised away? Economists lean on “the trend is your friend” for their estimates … which usually prove poor guesses at inflection points. No doubt on how growth, such as it is, occurring – debt accelerator mashed to the max … with ever greater amount of poor quality. Sustainable?
Agree regarding workforce population. Employment to population ratio still lags. Should be close to 65% but is way lower.
Deficit spending adds to GDP. With deficit spending equal to 4-5% of GDP our economy would be in contraction without borrowing from the future. So 2% growth is not “pretty good”.