HAS CONSUMER SPENDING MAINTAINED ITS PACE?
A new Department of Commerce report states that consumer spending rose 0.2% in February as consumer incomes improved 0.4%. These numbers replicated January’s gains. Even so, the personal savings rate hit a 6-month peak of 3.4% in February, suggesting that spending may have leveled off in the first quarter. Newly revised data shows that the economy was very healthy in the fourth quarter. Real consumer spending (personal spending adjusted for inflation) increased 4.0% while Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.9% annual rate. (The previous Q4 GDP estimate was 2.5%.)1,2
STILL PLENTY OF OPTIMISM ON MAIN STREET
Last week, the Conference Board announced a reading of 127.7 for the latest edition of its monthly consumer confidence index, not far from the outstanding mark of 130.0 it reached in February. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index also fell slightly, declining to a final, impressive March mark of 101.4 from its preliminary reading of 102.0.2
PENDING HOME SALES INDEX POSTS A GAIN
The National Association of Realtors said that its gauge of housing contract activity rose 3.1% for February, even with seeming obstacles like a thin inventory of existing homes on the market and a scarcity of affordable properties. Pending sales were still down 4.1% year-over-year.3
CHOPPY WEEK ENDS EVENTFUL QUARTER
After sizable advances and retreats across four trading sessions, the three major U.S. equity benchmarks ended higher for the abbreviated market week. The S&P 500 settled Friday at 2,640.87; the Nasdaq Composite, at 7,063.44; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, at 24,103.11. The S&P rose 2.03% in four trading days; the Nasdaq, 1.01%; the Dow, 2.42%.4
THIS WEEK: The Institute for Supply Management releases its March factory PMI Monday. Nothing major is scheduled for Tuesday. ISM’s March service sector PMI arrives Wednesday, plus a new ADP payrolls snapshot and earnings from CarMax and Lennar. New initial claims figures and the March Challenger job-cut report appear Thursday. On Friday, the Department of Labor presents its March employment report, and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell delivers a speech on the U.S. economic outlook in Chicago.
% CHANGE Y-T-D 1-YR CHG 5-YR AVG 10-YR AVG
DJIA -2.49 +16.67 +13.07 +9.73
NASDAQ +2.32 +19.77 +23.23 +21.24
S&P 500 -1.22 +11.85 +13.66 +10.08
REAL YIELD 3/29 RATE 1 YR AGO 5 YRS AGO 10 YRS AGO
10 YR TIPS 0.69% 0.41% -0.64% 1.13%
Sources: barrons.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov – 3/29/184,5,6,7
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. 10-year TIPS real yield = projected return at maturity given expected inflation.
WEEKLY QUOTE
“Silence is more musical than any song.”
– Christina Rossetti
WEEKLY TIP
About to start a business? Then be sure to file the correct forms with state government. Get in touch with your Secretary of State’s office (and your city and county) to see what licenses and forms you may need.
WEEKLY RIDDLE
Weight within my stomach, trees on my back, nails in my ribs, and feet I lack. What am I?
Last week’s riddle:
There are 43 hikers walking toward a desert peak. On the way, 6 decide to hike another peak, 12 head back, and 25 make it to the peak. What happens to the rest of them?
Last week’s answer:
There are no more, 6 + 12 + 25 = 43.
Citations.
1 – cnbc.com/2018/03/29/us-personal-income-feb-2018.html [3/29/18]
2 – investing.com/economic-calendar/ [3/29/18]
3 – nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/66542/pending-home-sales-february [3/28/18]
4 – barrons.com/public/page/weekstocks.html [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F29%2F17&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F29%2F17&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F29%2F17&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F28%2F13&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F28%2F13&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F28%2F13&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=3%2F28%2F08&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=3%2F28%2F08&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
5 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=3%2F28%2F08&x=0&y=0 [3/29/18]
6 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [3/29/18]
7 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [3/29/18]
This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., for Mark Lund, Mark is known as a Wealth Advisor, The 401k Advisor, Investor Coach, The Financial Advisor, The Financial Planner and author of The Effective Investor. Mark offers investment advisory services through Stonecreek Wealth Advisors, Inc. a fiduciary, independent, fee-only, Registered Investment Advisor firm providing investment and retirement planning for individuals and 401k consulting for small businesses. Cities served but not limited to are: Park City, Salt Lake City, Murray City, West Jordan City, Sandy City, Draper City, South Jordan City, Provo City, Orem City, Lehi City, Highland City, Alpine City, and American Fork City in Utah.
