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CBIA and the Metro Hartford Alliance
Economic Summit & Outlook 2013

Recent Developments in the US Economy
Christine Cumming, First Vice President
January 4, 2013

Disclaimer
The views expressed are the presenter’s and not those of
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal
Reserve System.

2

Overview
 Recovery from the Great Recession has been slower than earlier
post-war recoveries. Some recent features:
 Consumer spending on durable goods and housing gaining
strength.
 In contrast, growth of business fixed investment and exports has
slowed substantially over the course of 2012.
 Manufacturing output also declined in the second half of 2012.
 Unemployment has remained fairly high; much of the fall reflects
falling labor force participation, and the ratio of employed workers
to working-age population has remained unusually low.
 Inflationary pressures are quite subdued, but episodes of energy and
food price inflation keep inflation concerns alive.
 Policymakers face unfamiliar and difficult policy choices in both
monetary and fiscal policy.
 Major changes in the global economy create some urgency in
addressing the economic problems.

3

Growth of Real Consumer Spending and Income
Yr/Yr % Change

Yr/Yr % Change

16

16

Real PCE:
Durable Goods

12

12

8

8

4

4

0

0

-4

Real PCE:
Services

-8

Real Disposable
Personal Income
per Capita

-4
-8

-12

-12

-16
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

-16

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Household Financial Obligation Ratio
Ratio

Ratio

19.0

19.0

18.5

18.5
Household Financial
Obligation Ratio

18.0

18.0

17.5

17.5

17.0

17.0

16.5

16.5

16.0

16.0

15.5

15.5

15.0
1980

15.0
1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

5
Source: Federal Reserve Board

Consumer Debt by Credit Score Quintile
% Change – 4-Quarter

% Change – 4-Quarter

25

25

20

20

15

15

3rd Quintile

10
5

10
5th Quintile

5

0

0

4th Quintile
1st Quintile

-5

-5
2nd Quintile

-10

-10

-15
2006

-15
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

6
Source: FRBNY Consumer Credit Panel

Housing Starts
Units (Thousands)

525

Units (Thousands)

2000

1 Unit
(Right Scale)

450
1600
375
1200

300

225

Multifamily
(Left Scale)

800

150
400
75

0
2001 2002 2003

0
2004 2005

2006 2007 2008

2009 2010 2011

2012 2013

7
Source: Census Bureau

Single Family Housing Market
Months’ Supply

Index

230

13

200

170

NAR Months’ Supply of Single
Family Homes on the Market
(Right Axis)

12

CoreLogic Single Family
Detached House Price
Index (Left Axis)

10

11

9

140

8
110

7
6

80

5
50
4
20
1984

Sellers’ Market
1987

1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

2005

2008

3
2011

8
Source: CoreLogic, National Association of Realtors

Household Formations
2 Year Avg. Change

2 Year Avg. Change

2000

2000

Renter Occupied

1500

1500

1000

1000

500

500
Total Occupied

0

0

-500

-500
Owner Occupied

-1000
2003

-1000
2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

9
Source: Bureau of the Census

Real Business Nonresidential Fixed Investment
(Series Set to 1.00 at NBER Peak)
Ratio

Ratio

1.50

1.50

1.40

1.40
1990 Cycle

1.30
1.20

1.30
1.20

1981 Cycle

1.10

1.10
1973 Cycle

1.00

1.00

0.90

0.90
2001 Cycle

0.80

0.80

Current Cycle

0.70

0.70
-2

0

2

4

6
8
10
12
Quarters Since NBER Peak

14

16

18

20

10
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Real Exports of Goods and Services
(Series Set to 1.00 at NBER Peak)
Ratio

Ratio

1.50

1.50

1.40

1.40

1.30

1.30

1.20

1.20

1990 Cycle
1973 Cycle

1.10

1.10

1.00

1.00

1981 Cycle

0.90

2001 Cycle

0.90
Current Cycle

0.80

0.80

0.70

0.70
-2

0

2

4

6
8
10
12
Quarters Since NBER Peak

14

16

18

20

11
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Real Government Expenditures & Investment
(Series Set to 1.00 at NBER Peak)
Ratio

Ratio

1.30

1.30

1.25

1.25

1.20

1.20
1981-82 Cycle

1.15

1.10

1.15

1.10

2001 Cycle
1973-75 Cycle

1.05

1.05

Current Cycle

1.00

1.00
1990-91 Cycle

0.95

0.95
-2

0

2

4

6
8
10
12
Quarters Since NBER Peak

14

16

18

20

12
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Industrial Production
% Change - 6 months AR
125

% Change - 6 months AR
125

100

100

75

75

50

50

High Tech

25

25

0

0

-25

Autos and
Parts

-50

Excl. High Tech
and Autos and
Parts

-75
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Source: Federal Reserve Board

-25
-50
-75

Monthly Change in Private Employment by Sector
3MMA Change, Thousands

3MMA Change, Thousands

400

400
Service-Providing
Industries

200

200

0

0
Goods-Producing
Industries

-200

-200

-400

-400

-600
2000

-600
2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

14
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Measures of the Employment Situation
Percent

Percent

12

68
67

10

66
Labor Force
Participation Rate
(Right Axis)

8

65
64
63

6

4

62
Employment to
Population
Ratio
(Right Axis)

Unemployment Rate
(Left Axis)

2

61
60
59
58
57

0
2000

56
2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Consumer Price Inflation
12-Month % Change

12-Month % Change

10

60
50

5

Total CPI
(Left Axis)

CPI- Food
(14.2%)
(Left Axis)

40
30
20
10

0

0
-10

CPI- Energy
(10.2%)
(Right Axis)
-5
2000

-20
-30

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

16
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Note: Numbers in Parentheses Denote Latest Monthly Weights

Core CPI
Percent

Percent

4.0

4.0

3.5

3.5

3.0

3.0

2.5

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.5

12-Month
Change

1.0

1.0
3-Month Change
Annual Rate

0.5

0.5

0.0
-0.5
2001

0.0
-0.5
2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

2013

17
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

TIPS Based Inflation Expectations
Percent

Percent

4

4
5-10 Years

December 28:
2.74

3

3

2

2

1

1

December 28:
2.68

4-5 Years

0

0
2-3 Years

-1
2006

December 28:
2.50

-1
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

18
Source: Federal Reserve Board

Note: Carry-adjusted.

Policy Responses to the Slow Recovery
 The Great Recession involved both a deep recession and deep
financial distress.
 Well-documented that generating robust recovery in such
circumstances is difficult.
 Also well-documented that risk exists that premature policy
tightening can stall out the recovery.
 Tools for generating the robust recovery:
 Monetary Policy
 Fiscal Policy
 Trade policy/Regulatory policy

19

Monetary Policy


From the Federal Open Market Committee’s December 12, 2012 statement:





The FOMC’s intention is to support a stronger economic recovery and to help ensure
that inflation, over time, is at the rate most consistent with its dual mandate.



The Federal Funds rate target range is from 0 to ¼ point.



The FOMC announced plans to purchase agency mortgage-backed securities at a pace
of $40 billion per month and start purchasing longer-term Treasury securities, initially at
a pace of $45 billion per month.
 It expects the purchases to maintain downward pressure on longer-term interest
rates, support mortgage markets, and make broader financial conditions more
accommodative.
The program of securities purchases is open-ended.
 If the outlook for the labor market does not improve substantially, the Committee
will continue its purchases of Treasury and agency mortgage-backed securities,
and employ its other policy tools as appropriate, until such improvement is
achieved





The FOMC currently anticipates that the “exceptionally low range for the federal funds
rate will be appropriate at least as long as the unemployment rate remains above 6-1/2
percent, inflation between one and two years ahead is projected to be no more than a
half percentage point above the Committee’s 2 percent longer-run goal, and longerterm inflation expectations continue to be well anchored.
20

Actual and Expected Fed Funds Target
Percent

Percent

5.50

5.50

5.00

5.00

4.50

4.50

4.00

4.00

3.50

3.50

3.00

3.00

2.50

2.50

2.00

2.00

1.50

January 1, 2013

Actual

1.00

1.50
1.00

December 12, 2012

0.50

0.50

0.00
2004 2005

0.00
2006 2007

2008 2009

2010 2011

Source: Federal Reserve Board and staff estimates.

2012 2013

2014 2015

2016

Table 1: Tax and Spending Provisions of the “Fiscal Cliff”
Impact on Calendar 2013 Deficit

Baseline Provisions
Payroll Tax Cut
Affordable Care Act Taxes
Emergency Unemployment Benefits
Partial Expensing
Discretionary Spending
Budget Control Act caps
Overseas defense drawdown

Billions of Dollars
-127
-24
-35
-87

% of GDP
0.8
0.1
0.2
0.5

-29
-15

0.2
0.1

Subtotal

-317

1.9

Additional Provisions of Full Fiscal Cliff
2001-2003 tax cuts and AMT
Medicare "Doc fix"
Regular Tax extenders (ie, R&D credit)
Full Sequester (additional amount)

-295
-15
-47
-87

1.8
0.1
0.3
0.5

Subtotal

-444

2.7

Total

-761

4.7

Source: Congressional Budget Office. Provisions incorporated in consensus baseline from
National Association for Business Economics, October 2012.

22

American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012






Major Individual Income Tax Provisions



2 percentage point reduction of payroll tax in effect in 2011 and 2012 is allowed to expire.
Extends permanently the Bush individual income tax rate schedule except as follows:
▫

▫
▫




Permanently establishes the estate tax rate at 40% with a $5 million exemption per spouse,
indexed for inflation. ( up from 35% in 2012).
Permanent Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) fix.
▫



Creates a new 39.6% marginal tax rate on taxable income greater than $450,000 for a joint return, $400,000
for a single return.
Reintroduces the phasing out of personal exemptions and itemized deductions at the rate of 3% of the
amount of AGI above $300,000 (joint return), $250,000 (single return).
Raises the tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends for those subject to the 39.6%
marginal tax rate to 20% (from 15%). Additional ACA tax raises the rate to 23.8%.

Raise the AMT exemption amount for 2012 to $78,750 (joint) and index exemption, exemption phaseout
threshold, and income bracket for inflation.

One year extension of deduction of state and local sales taxes.

Major Business Tax Provisions




One year extension of 50% bonus depreciation for qualified investment.
One year extension of research and experimentation tax credit. One year increase in Section 179
expensing amount and threshold.
One year extension of tax credit for renewable electricity production.

Major Spending Provisions



Extend Emergency Unemployment Benefits for one year.
Postpones for one year deep cuts in reimbursements for doctors seeing Medicare beneficiaries.
▫



(This is paid for by $25 billion over 10 years in reduced reimbursement rates for hospitals and other
providers.)

Postpones the sequester for 2 months.
▫

(This is paid for with $24 billion of additional revenue and spending cuts?)

23

1003

Stance of Fiscal Policy

Change in Full Employment Budget Balance as a Percent of Potential GDP
Percent of Potential GDP
Percent of Potential GDP

6

Full
Fiscal
Cliff

4
Budget
Agreement

2

6
4
2

0

0

-2

-2

-4

-4

-6

-6

1962

1968

1974

1980

1986

1992

1998

Source: Congressional Budget Office and staff estimate.

2004

2010

24

State & Local Government Receipts
Year/Year % Change

Year/Year % Change

30

30

25

25

20

20

Federal Grants
in Aid

15

15

Total Receipts
10

10

5

5

0

0

Tax Receipts

-5

-5

-10

-10

-15

-15

-20
1990

-20
1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

25
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Private and Public Balances
Percent of GDP

Percent of GDP

10

10

Households
Business

5

5

0

0

-5

-5

Government
-10

-15
1970

Current
Account

-10

-15
1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

26
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Note: Shading represents NBER recessions.

The US in the Global Economy
 Resolving our issues and resuming strong, sustainable growth
is key to our economic leadership.
 The emerging market countries are beginning to achieve the
income levels and wealth the US hoped for and worked toward
in the early years after World War II.
 The growth in emerging market economies greatly outpaces
growth in the advanced economies, but emerging market
growth is slowing as standards of living start catching up to
advanced country levels, demographic trends slowly converge
to those of the advanced countries, and emerging markets’
customers in the advanced economies have cyclically slowed.

27

The Advanced Economies:
The U.S., Europe and Japan
 While the details differ across the advanced economies, all have a
similar dilemma:
 All three major regions are experiencing slow growth and seeking
more of a “break-out” recovery.
 All have had substantial financial sector dislocations.
 All have similar significant fiscal problems: high debt to GDP
ratios, large deficits, high contingent liabilities such as public
pensions and medical insurance.
 All are exploring unconventional monetary measures given the
zero bound on interest rates and wrestling with fiscal choices.

28

Real GDP Growth
Percent, Y/Y

Percent

16

16

14

14

12

12
China

10

10

8

8

6

6
Other EMEs

4

4

2

2

0

0

Advanced
Economies

-2

-2

-4

-4

-6
2007

-6
2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Other EMEs include India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan,
Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Hungary, Russia, South Africa,
Poland, Turkey, Ukraine (from 2002)
Source: National authorities

Percentage Distribution of Global GDP
Percent

Percent

60

60

50

Other
Advanced

EMEs

50

40

40

30

30
US

20

20

10

10

0

0

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017
Source: IMF