Eurodollar University

Consumer confidence has dropped sharply over the past few months as Americans are now more concerned about jobs and incomes than prices. The shift has been so pronounced that even members of the mainstream media are questioning FOMC officials. Hardly strong and resilient, there's rising unemployment and declining confidence mixed with a bevy corporate warnings.Eurodollar University's conversation w/Steve Van MetreFRB Chair Jay Powell Press Conference June 12, 2024https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqaxWf7gsQATranscript:https://www.federalreserve.gov/mediacenter/files/FOMCpresconf20240612.pdfhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDUEurodollar University's Anniversary Webinar: The Fundamentals of Interest Rates over the Next 12 months.Sign up below:https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/rates

Conventional 'wisdom' says that when US$ interest rates go down the dollar goes down with them. Yet, it hasn't been uncommon to find Treasury yields falling as the dollar's exchange value jumps. When that has happened, nothing good comes from it. We're starting to see what looks to be that scenario setting up right now. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysishttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDUEurodollar University's Anniversary Webinar: The Fundamentals of Interest Rates over the Next 12 months.Sign up below:https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/rates

Eurodollar University's Anniversary Webinar: The Fundamentals of Interest Rates over the Next 12 months.Sign up below:https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/ratesI said the payroll number is wrong and Jay Powell of all people agrees. But if the real question is how wrong, that's where the debate is even though it should already be settled. There is plenty of evidence the US is tilting in the direction of the HH Survey and unemployment rate. And that includes the rates market which ignored the FOMC's hawkish dots. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisJay Powell's Press Conferencehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ZE5tF_IMUCNBC Quotes from Jay Powell Press Conferencehttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/12/fed-meeting-today-live-updates-on-june-fed-rate-decision.htmlPolitico Biden’s economy: Good metrics, bad vibes, few levershttps://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/07/biden-has-an-economic-story-to-tell-and-yet-00162338Guardian Majority of Americans wrongly believe US is in recession – and most blame Bidenhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/22/poll-economy-recession-bidenBLS Business Employment Dynamics Summaryhttps://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewbd.nr0.htmTable 4'https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewbd.t04.htmhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Eurodollar University's Anniversary Webinar: The Fundamentals of Interest Rates over the Next 12 months.Sign up below:https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/ratesWalgreens is the latest Big Name to cut prices because Americans have run out of money. As the company's prices go down, those will add even more to the disinflationary environment; and that's the bad side of smaller price changes. Today's May CPI completely backs up everything we've been seeing. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisWalgreens Walgreens Introduces Summer of Savingshttps://www.walgreensbootsalliance.com/news-media/press-releases/2024/walgreens-introduces-summer-savingsQuartz Amazon, Walmart, and Big Retail’s race to cut priceshttps://qz.com/target-walmart-amazon-walgreens-price-cuts-consumers-1851507920Bloomberg  Big Oil’s Blockbuster $114 Billion Investor Payout Is Most Everhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-07/big-oil-pays-out-record-114-billion-in-share-buybacks-and-dividendshttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Last week's ECB rate cut was...odd. Sure, officials had said for months they were going to do it. Yet, the conditions that would have to be met were not. Policymakers went ahead anyway and this past weekend's developments are a big Big Picture reason why. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg Italy’s Tajani Calls for Quick Second ECB Cut After June Movehttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-05/italy-s-tajani-calls-for-quick-second-ecb-cut-after-june-moveThe Times Back me for low interest rates, Rishi Sunak tells votershttps://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/rishi-sunak-tories-interest-rates-general-election-962mpcmjxAP UK inflation lowest in 3 years. Prime Minister Sunak makes it a focus in election call for July 4https://apnews.com/article/britain-economy-inflation-interest-rates-090db19af939b9c532da1fb15ab40a0aLeMonde Moody's warns that France's snap election could lower credit ratinghttps://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/06/11/moody-s-warns-that-french-snap-election-could-lower-credit-rating_6674498_7.html#https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Eurodollar University's Anniversary Webinar: The Fundamentals of Interest Rates over the Next 12 months.Sign up below:https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/ratesConsumer credit has historically been a solid recession signal, particularly how consumers alter their usage of credit cards. Some of that by choice, for many it is the bank's. Either way, when this happens it is more compelling evidence backing the rise in the unemployment rate.Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisSeptember 2008 FOMC Transcripthttps://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/FOMC20080916meeting.pdfMarch 2001 FOMC Transcripthttps://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/FOMC20010320meeting.pdfhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Roaring Kitty is not the problem, nor is Gamestop the company and its stock. All are symptoms of a degraded model that increasingly rewards all the wrong behaviors. Stocks have become lottery tickets, the pie-in-the-sky way out for way too many Americans otherwise trapped in a real economy that continues to leave them behind - as the latest employment report proves. Eurodollar University's conversation w/Steve Van MetreRoaring Kitty Livestream 6/7/2024https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1prSyyIco0&t=658sThe Hill GameStop shares plunge, halted during Roaring Kitty livestreamhttps://thehill.com/business/4710147-gamestop-shares-trading-roaring-kitty-livestream-meme-stock/https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

This has never happened before. Sure, the payroll data and CPS series have diverged before but this is something entirely new. The fact that it runs contrary to decades of history makes our determination rather easy and simple: the labor market noose is tightening. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg Big US Job Gains Is Out of Sync With Recent Weaker Economic Datahttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2024-06-07/us-employment-report-for-mayhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

After two years unequivocally stating "inflation" was the world's biggest threat and crisis, and that nothing short of full victory would suffice, now all of a sudden Europe (and Canada) is changing it up, cutting rates even as price estimates remain well short of their standard while also appearing to be stuck that way. What is really going on here?Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisECB Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECBhttps://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2024/html/ecb.is240606~d32cd6cc8a.en.htmlBank of Canada Rate Cut Announcementhttps://www.bankofcanada.ca/multimedia/press-conference-policy-rate-announcement-june-2024/https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

More labor market cracks are showing and expanding. Even some of the data which has been resilient may have to be substantially changed given new information that just came to light. Labor weakness continues to clear out the FOMC setting the Treasury market up the next rally - though it isn't quite there yet. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisADP National Employmenthttps://adpemploymentreport.com/ADP Pay Insightshttps://payinsights.adp.com/?_ga=2.165121663.1500609015.1717601960-340309474.1717601960BLS QCEW Overviewhttps://www.bls.gov/cew/overview.htmBLS QCEW https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.nr0.htmhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

As more weak data pours in on the US economy, the more clarity it offers on the future path of ST interest rates. As that clears up, market rates are moving lower. But why? Mainstream theory demands we consider rates as entirely supply or demand factors (like QE). Yet, the past couple years have thoroughly disproven the idea. Rates are going lower because that's where and what the fundamentals are. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg Majority of Middle-Class Americans Say They Struggle Financiallyhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-04/two-thirds-of-middle-class-americans-face-hardship-in-poll?srnd=economics-v2https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

A rare warning strikes the gasoline market in another confirmation of economic weakness, one primary factor which forced OPEC this past weekend to extend its production restrictions. On top of those, big changes to US income estimates further corroborating the deterioration, as did a surprise drop in one of the more critical sentiment signals.Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisReuters Weak US gasoline demand compounds pressure on oil ahead of OPEC+ meethttps://www.reuters.com/business/energy/weak-us-gasoline-demand-compounds-pressure-oil-ahead-opec-meet-2024-05-31/Nikkei  OPEC+ extends deep oil production cuts into 2025https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/OPEC-extends-deep-oil-production-cuts-into-2025ISM Manufacturing May 2024https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-report-on-business/pmi/may/https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Weak economic results continue to roll in, matching other sources of information about the US economy. From the Federal Reserve's own account and data to more corporate reports. They all have one thing - and one word - in common. GDP revisions plus the first update on the state of GDI and its bigtime mismatch. Eurodollar University's conversation w/Steve Van Metrehttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Tensions are rising. Aggressive actions are becoming commonplace. This isn't just sabre-rattling and posturing as war is a real possibility. It's not difficult to see why, at least what some of the motivation is. China's central bank is publicly discussing even more highly unusual steps to try to reign in the unfolding financial and economic backlash which was just confirmed by even more data. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg US Commander Warns China Is Fast Becoming More Aggressive in Regionhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-23/us-commander-warns-china-is-fast-becoming-more-aggressive-in-regionBloomberg Xi’s Cryptic Bond Comments Hint at PBOC Becoming More Like Fedhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-01/xi-s-cryptic-bond-comments-hint-at-pboc-becoming-more-like-fedCNBC Philippine president says killing of a Filipino in South China Sea clash would be ‘very close’ to act of warhttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/31/ferdinand-marcos-jr-philippine-president-talks-red-lines-in-south-china-sea.htmlBloomberg Marcos Swipes at China, Vowing Not to Yield in Disputed Seahttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-31/marcos-swipes-at-beijing-in-vow-to-not-yield-in-south-china-seaBloomberg China Ramps Up Warning on Bond Frenzyhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-31/china-ramps-up-warning-on-bond-frenzy-with-pboc-selling-in-focusDow Jones Chinese State Media Hint at Possible PBOC Bond Sellinghttps://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/202405311908/chinese-state-media-hint-at-possible-pboc-bond-sellingNikkei Asia Foreign direct investment in China falls to 30-year lowhttps://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Foreign-direct-investment-in-China-falls-to-30-year-lowhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

More corporate mayhem brought on by the "uncertain market environment." Stocks of both Salesforce and Kohl's were hammered today as each company demonstrates in their own way just what the updated GDP numbers suggest. That latter data report also includes GDI which is almost certainly closer to the real economy all these other sources are projecting. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisCNBC Salesforce shares tumble 20%, on pace for worst day since 2004https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/30/salesforce-stock-fall-earnings-revenue-miss.htmlBloomberg  Salesforce Shares Plunge by Most Since 2008 After Weak Outlookhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-29/salesforce-gives-weak-sales-outlook-with-slowdown-fears-growingCNBC Kohl’s stock plummets 25% after massive earnings misshttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/30/kohls-kss-earnings-q1-2024.htmlKohl's Kohl's Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Resultshttps://investors.kohls.com/news-releases/news-details/2024/Kohls-Reports-First-Quarter-Fiscal-2024-Financial-Results/default.aspxBEA  Gross Domestic Product, First Quarter 2024 (Second Estimate) and Corporate Profits (Preliminary)https://www.bea.gov/news/2024/gross-domestic-product-first-quarter-2024-second-estimate-and-corporate-profitshttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

More CRE developments today and last week this time with a focus on Europe. New reports indicate losses are coming soon and data from the ECB shows why there are so many concerns. We also have the latest bank lending figures which show more troubling signs under the cover of 'extend and pretend.'Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisECB Commercial real estate and financial stability – new insights from the euro area credit registerhttps://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/macroprudential-bulletin/html/ecb.mpbu202210_4~0aa7d44e15.en.htmlReuters Explainer: European banks and their $1.5 trillion commercial property headachehttps://www.reuters.com/business/finance/european-banks-their-15-trillion-commercial-property-headache-2024-02-15/S&P Global Investors expect surge in bad commercial real estate loans at European bankshttps://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/investors-expect-surge-in-bad-commercial-real-estate-loans-at-european-banks-81618608FitchRatings Global Contagion Risk Growing from Rising CRE Losses, Led by Officehttps://www.fitchratings.com/research/non-bank-financial-institutions/global-contagion-risk-growing-from-rising-cre-losses-led-by-office-02-04-2024https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

More data released today which shows the US economy has taken a turn for the worse. Consumers are running out of options and are turning in huge proportions to alternate means to stay afloat. One of those alternatives, however, is being closed off as the American banks are now actively cutting back risk while going on a buying binge for safety. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysisnerdwallet  2024 State of Consumer Credit Reporthttps://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/2024-consumer-credit-reportCNBC 25% of consumers recently used a buy now, pay later loan, report finds. What to know as they become popularhttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/28/buy-now-pay-later-loans-are-second-only-to-credit-cards-in-popularity.htmlFRBNY HOUSEHOLD DEBT AND CREDIT REPORT (Q1 2024)https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdchttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

What's misinformation about the economy? It's a well-known fact policymakers and Economists outright lie about any situation. But why? They say it's for your own good. The lies are beginning to pile up so much that officials now have to lie about their lies, including the very theory behind all of this especially when some of the theoreticians who came up with it no longer want to be the very purveyors of misinformation. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisGeorge DeMartino Should Economists Deceive? Prosocial Lying, Paternalism, and the ‘Ben Bernanke Problem’https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1256&context=peri_workingpapersDeLong & Summers How Does Macroeconomic Policy Affect Output?https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/1988/06/1988b_bpea_delong_summers_mankiw_romer.pdfBrad DeLong Greater Depressionhttps://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/j--bradford-delong-argues-that-it-is-time-to-call-what-is-happening-in-europe-and-the-us-by-its-true-nameBank of England  Ben Bernanke to lead review into forecasting at Bank of Englandhttps://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2023/july/ben-bernanke-to-lead-review-into-forecasting-at-bank-of-englandBank of England Forecasting for monetary policy making and communication at the Bank of England: a reviewhttps://www.bankofengland.co.uk/independent-evaluation-office/forecasting-for-monetary-policy-making-and-communication-at-the-bank-of-england-a-review/forecasting-for-monetary-policy-making-and-communication-at-the-bank-of-england-a-reviewMervyn King Per Jacobsson Lecture: The World Turned Upside Down: Economic Policy in Turbulent Timeshttps://meetings.imf.org/en/2019/Annual/Schedule/2019/10/19/imf-seminar-per-jacobssonhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

It doesn't help that policymakers and Economists quite openly admit they will and even should lie to you about the state of the economy. But to go so far as to call legitimate and widely-shared criticism misinformation is taking this too far. The reason it is going this way is just how difficult the situation has become, which brings us back to the first point: who's actually telling the truth?Eurodollar University's conversations w/Steve Van MetreShould Economists Deceive? Prosocial Lying, Paternalism, and the ‘Ben Bernanke Problem’https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1256&context=peri_workingpapersFoxNews Democrat claiming 'inflation rates are down' interrupted by higher than expected inflation reporthttps://www.foxnews.com/media/democrat-claiming-inflation-rates-down-interrupted-higher-expected-inflation-reportThe Undecideds What Are Undecided Voters Really Thinking?https://markhalperin.substack.com/p/what-are-undecided-voters-reallyBloomberg Fed’s Bostic Says Policy Is Taking Longer to Slow Growthhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-23/fed-s-bostic-says-policy-is-taking-longer-to-slow-growthhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

After months of silence, a couple of critical developments from the beleaguered commercial real estate sector show up all at once. For the first time since the Global not-Financial Crisis, a senior tranche of a CLO took losses - a lot of losses - while redemptions threaten to force liquidations at one of the spaces more important CRE funds. Not good first signs for the bubble unwind.Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg A Really Bad Sign for Commercial Real Estatehttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-05-23/bloomberg-evening-briefing-a-really-bad-sign-for-commercial-real-estateBloomberg Starwood’s $10 Billion REIT Turns to Survival Mode as Real Estate Pain Lingershttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-23/starwood-reit-sets-drastic-redemption-limits-on-liquidity-crunchBloomberg Lenders Race to Buy Back Delinquent Multifamily Mortgage Loanshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-01/jpmorgan-says-commercial-real-estate-clo-loan-buyouts-are-set-to-reach-a-recordFitch Global Contagion Risk Growing from Rising CRE Losses, Led by Officehttps://www.fitchratings.com/research/non-bank-financial-institutions/global-contagion-risk-growing-from-rising-cre-losses-led-by-office-02-04-2024https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU