Wells Fargo Economics The Long Road Ahead Ed Kashmarek Economist Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust Client Forum Omaha, NE June 7, 2011 © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.
Agenda Labor Market Inflation/Mortgage Rates Housing Market Credit Quality Lending Manufacturing Consumers Economic Outlook Budget Deficit/Debt Questions
22 Labor Market Improving but Still Weak
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
13 Inflation Rising but Core Still Low
18 Housing Market Mixed Signals
22
Why Are Home Sales So Constrained? High Unemployment Tight Mortgage Standards Buyers Fear Further price declines More foreclosures entering market Sellers Can’t Sell Current Home No demand at desired price Low appraisals Already underwater (28%)
25 Credit Quality Improving But Challenging
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39 Lending Remains Constrained
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42
43
44 Manufacturing Strong, but Losing Momentum?
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46
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48 Consumers Better But Still Not Confident
56 Economic Growth and Outlook
59 Budget Deficit and Debt Big, Big Problems
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67
Federal Debt Limit Has Been Reached Debt limit of $ trillion reached May 16 Payments to two big gov’t pension plans halted Republicans say no debt limit increase without cuts Other possible options until August 2 trim or delay sales of marketable securities suspend sales of non-marketable securities suspend flows or redeem securities of gov’t accounts swap debt with Federal Financing Bank If debt limit not raised by August 2 suspend payments (Social Security, Medicare, military) default on bonds, interest rates rise
Key Takeaways Job growth - will be less than desired weak labor demand (productivity, off-shoring) weak product demand (unemployment) skills imbalance regulations (healthcare, Dodd-Frank, EPA) uncertainty Housing Market – will remain challenged weak labor market tight lending standards Buyers fear further price declines, more foreclosures Seller can’t sell (low offers, low appraisals, negative equity) high inventories, shadow inventory Budget Deficits – will likely weigh on growth tax increases spending cuts higher interest rates? less domestic investment lower income growth
70 Questions?