Summary
- Jobs continued their trend: a long period of slow growth, second weakest since 1961 (2001-07 was worse).
- Worker’s wages continued their slow growth, weekly wages up 2.1% YoY for private sector hourly workers.
- Slow growth doesn’t create the imbalances & inflation that cause recession. This could run for another year, and perhaps longer.
- Such slow non-inflationary growth makes raising rates a risky play for the Fed. I doubt they will be so bold.
- In this slow growth environment paying big valuations for stocks is risky gamble.
The monthly employment report is the most important economic report. It is central to our consumer-led economy, relatively accurate, and frequent (unlike GDP). The November report frustrates both bulls and bears. Still more slow growth in jobs and wages. No signs of boom, no signs of bust, no signs of inflation. Boring, but rich with implications for investors.
As usual, the chart tells the tale. This is the YoY percent change in jobs from the Establishment Survey, not seasonally adjusted (NSA). The purple line is the 1.6% growth reported today. Growth peaked at 2.3% in February 2015 and has slowed steadily since — but gently. Click to enlarge.
Contents
Why look at the NSA YoY percent changes? What about the horrific numbers from… Aren’t most of the new jobs low-paying? What about the recession that was coming? Why are investors paying such high valuations for stocks?
