KEY DATA: PPI: +0.4%; Goods: +0.7%; Services: +0.3%/ IP: +0.3%; Manufacturing: 0%/ WVI (Year-over-Year): +4.1%

IN A NUTSHELL: “Manufacturing remains sluggish but with business costs rising the labor market tightening, the Fed remains on track for a rate hike this year.”

WHAT IT MEANS: One of the sore spots with the Fed is the continued underperformance of inflation. I know that sounds weird, but having inflation at a reasonable level, which means neither too hot nor too cold but just right, is one of its two mandates. The FOMC has said that 2% is the target and that is nowhere in sight. Yesterday we saw that import prices remain tame and that should restrain consumer costs. Today, however, we see that wholesale prices are starting to pick up. Yes, energy is a factor and it looks like we could be in for another down leg on those costs, but even excluding energy, producer prices are finally accelerating a bit. And the bird flu’s impact on food costs cannot be dismissed as wholesale egg prices skyrocketed. But even excluding food and energy, the cost of producer goods was up. Indeed, the special index personal consumption goods excluding food and energy has risen 1.5% over the year. That is not high, but it is clearly moving back toward levels that the Fed can live with. On the services side, we are also seeing a touch of acceleration. Don’t forget that services are nearly two-thirds of the total Producer Price Index.

One major disappointing segment of the economy has been the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing output was flat in June, the second consecutive month of no gains. Second quarter production rose at a meager 1.3% annualized pace – not good. That said, the details were less discouraging. The June number was depressed by a large cut back in vehicle assemblies. Given the strong sales, that should reverse. There was also a solid rise in business equipment production, another positive sign. Excluding vehicles, manufacturing activity was up solidly, so we should probably discount the headline number.

The Fed is also concentrating on the labor market. ADP’s second quarter Workforce Vitality Index show the labor market improved from its first quarter slowdown. Importantly, hourly wage gains are accelerating, as are turnovers. The issue of retention has not been a major concern for employers for this entire decade but that could be changing rapidly.

MARKETS AND FED POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Today, Fed Chair Yellen again tried to soften up the beaches by reiterating we are on track for a rate hike this year. If don’t believe that and it happens, shame on you. Today’s data help her out. On inflation, she is not saying that the rate has to be at 2% for the FOMC to start hiking rates. She has said it must be making progress for that rate to be reached in the “medium term”. She can wait probably up to a year. A tightening labor market where wages are rising faster would help create the belief that would happen and the ADP report points to that reality. And if we really examine the industrial production data, it is not that bad. So, taken together, today’s data support the Fed Chair’s message that the economy can support a rate hike.

KEY DATA: ISM (Manufacturing): +0.7 point/ ADP Jobs: +237,000/ Layoffs: +3,808/ Help Wanted: -144,300

IN A NUTSHELL: “Manufacturing is starting to recover and with job gains strong, the accelerating economy looks like it is picking up even more steam.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Today we had a data dump as everyone rushed to beat the long July 4^th weekend. For the most part, the numbers point to a pretty solid economy and the potential for a very good payroll number tomorrow. Let’s start with the Institute for Supply Management’ June Manufacturing report, which rose to its highest level since December 2014. Yes, it is still below what we saw in the second half of last year, but rising is better than falling. Importantly, new orders are rising solidly and that is leading to better hiring. The report did have its warts. Production moderated, backlogs eased and export demand moderated. Still, this report furthers the belief that the industrial sector’s problems are fading.

As for the labor market, there was one really strong report and two warning flags. First, the good news. ADP’s estimate of June job gains was well above expectations. Small businesses are adding workers like crazy and mid-sized firms are hiring solidly as well. However, large companies, especially those with more than 1,000 workers are not adding to payrolls very rapidly. Mergers, acquisitions and the strong dollar are likely the reasons that these companies are not doing much. Still, the ADP number has been underestimating national job growth and if that pattern persists, we could be looking at an employment increase in excess of 250,000 (I have been at 252,00). It is also likely that the unemployment rate will tick back down to 5.4%.

While job gains should be strong in June, going forward, the increases may be more moderate. Challenger, Gray and Christmas reported that layoff notices rose in June and were up by 17% during the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2014. The energy sector has been the reason for the increase but the large declines seem to be behind us. But other sectors are still cutting and it is unclear why. Also, the Conference Board’s Help Wanted OnLine measure dropped, pointing to a slowing in openings. Still, job openings are extraordinarily high, so I don’t expect any major moderation in hiring.

MARKETS AND FED POLICY IMPLICATIONS: The economy has shifted back into solid growth mode. The strong payroll gains in the small business sector point to broad based growth. Wage gains have been solid and consumers have the means to spend. Clearly, they have the confidence to buy more.   Yesterday’s sharp rise in the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index clearly says that. The May construction report was also strong and that, in conjunction with a recovering manufacturing sector implies that all components of the economy are now moving forward. Greece may be dominating the news but tomorrow the jobs report will hold sway. A strong June jobs number would make it clear the economy can absorb a rate hike and the Fed can move at any time it wants. Indeed, a reasonable resolution of the Greek impasse could mean the green flag will go up at the July 28-29 FOMC meeting.

KEY DATA: Sales: +0.9%

IN A NUTSHELL: “With households signing contracts to buy homes at a growing pace, we should see even better housing sales in the months ahead.”

WHAT IT MEANS: The housing market just keeps getting better. The National Association of Realtors Pending Home Sales Index, a leading indicator of existing home sales, rose solidly again in May. The index is up over 10% between April 2014 and April 2015 and has clawed its way back to its April 2006 level. For the first five months of the year, pending home sales were up by a very solid 7.3%. The May increase was not spread evenly across the nation. The Northeast, which has been lagging, had the best gain. There was also a solid rise in pending sales in the West. However, there was a slowdown in activity in the South and the West. Still, except for the Northeast, the three other regions have shown strong increases in activity over the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2014.

Texas has been hit hard by the decline in energy prices but the free fall may be ending. The Dallas Fed’s Texas, while still negative, moved up solidly in June. Declining output in the oil patch has cast a pall on the industrial production numbers nationally and if slowdown is fading, that should lead to better national manufacturing data.

MARKETS AND FED POLICY IMPLICATIONS: All eyes are on Greece right now so almost any U.S. economy except the most important ones are likely to be put aside by investors. Why anyone should be shocked if Greece defaults is beyond me, but I have said the same thing about the Fed raising rates. Markets may be efficient, but not necessarily rational. And that is important to remember when it comes to Fed policy. The housing numbers are showing that this sector is getting better. To the extent that rising prices will bring forth more supply and ultimately even more sales is good, at least for a while. On Thursday we get the June employment report and that is likely to be very good, though not as strong as the May one. A decline in the unemployment rate to 5.4% would put it almost at the Fed’s full employment level. Another good gain in wages would show that the tight market is doing what it should be doing: Allocating scarce labor resources through the pricing mechanism. Rising incomes imply that consumption should improve even more going forward as well. In other words, by the end of this week, it should be clear that the U.S. economy is strong enough to absorb a rate hike. So, should the Fed try to save irrational investors who have decided to wait until they see a Greek default or a Fed rate hike before doing anything? I may be in a minority believing they shouldn’t, but investors have had the information to make rational portfolio decisions for quite a while now and it is not the Fed’s job to bail them out if they don’t do that. We talk about moral hazard and the Fed should not keep creating additional moral hazard. Boy it is good to get that off my chest. Basically, I think the Fed should start raising rates and stop acting as the not so invisible hand covering up for irrational investors in the equity, bond, currency, housing and whatever other market it is supposed to be protecting.

KEY DATA: Consumption: +0.9%; Income: +0.5%; Inflation: +0.3%; Excluding Food and Energy: +0.1%/ Claims: +3,000

IN A NUTSHELL: “Consumers have the money to spend and they are doing just that.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Another day, another day of good economic data. Oh, I have said that before. Well, I expect to be able to say that many more times. Yes, I am poking fun at the Fed’s evaluation of the economy. There are those that look into the future who are called forecasters. There are those that evaluate current data and we call them nowcasters. And there are those that can only see the past and we call them Fed members. Enough. The good news today was the income and spending numbers. Consumers went out and bought a lot of everything in May. We knew the report would be strong because of the jump in vehicle sales. But it was not just durable goods demand that was up.   Demand for nondurables was also robust and spending on services continues to be solid – even when adjusted for inflation.   So far this quarter, consumption is running at a 2.5% annualized pace. A moderate June increase would get us to 3%. With services, which is two-thirds of all spending, holding up, that is a possibility even if vehicle sales fade from their ten-year high.   Strong gains in income add to the belief that the consumer will continue to spend solidly. Income rose sharply and much of that increase came from gains in wages and salaries. Adjusting for inflation, disposable income for the first five months of the year is up a strong 3.6% compared to the same period last year. Consumption outstripped the strong rise in income and the savings rate eased. Inflation picked up, but

The tight labor market remains tight as new claims for unemployment insurance inched up last week. The level is at historic lows when adjusted for the labor force and that means hiring is likely to continue to be strong with wage gains accelerating as well. More firms are announcing they are raising the minimum wage they are paying their workers and as that trend spreads, even small businesses will have to follow or risk losing workers.

MARKETS AND FED POLICY IMPLICATIONS: People have the money to spend and it looks like they are actually spending it. The labor market is tight, wages and incomes are rising solidly so we should expect consumers to help lead the economy forward. I had commented that this report was the one on which I was focusing. It shows that on the consumer side, everything is good shape: Both spending and income are solid. The only issue for the Fed is inflation. While it is ticking up, the rate over the year is still well below the Fed’s target. As the declines in energy start coming out of the index, that will change and it would not be surprising if the overall index is running at a 2.5% pace by the end of the year. Excluding food and energy, though, the index doesn’t seem to have much upward momentum. Modest inflation and Greece are the only two things standing in the way of the Fed finally becoming a more positive about the current and future economy. Basically, the economy is strong enough if the Fed wants to move and the markets, especially the fixed income markets, need to start taking that into account.

KEY DATA: Sales: +5.1%; 1-Family: +5.6%; Median Prices: +7.9%; 1-Family: +8.6%

IN A NUTSHELL: “The housing market has rebounded sharply and now looks to be a leading part of the spring economic acceleration.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Another day, another indication that the economy is in really good shape. The existing housing market was a disaster in the first quarter, as sales tanked. But that was clearly a winter issue and the rebound is really strong. The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales jumped in May to their highest level in 5½ years. And the details were just as good as the headline number. Demand improved in every region, led by a double-digit gain in the Northeast. Purchases of single-family homes led the way as condo demand improved modestly. We are also seeing a sizable shift in the profile of buyers, out of investors and distressed properties and into first time buyers. While the number of homes on the market rose, when adjusted for the sales pace, inventory actually declined. The shortage in homes is restraining total sales and since buyers are bidding on limited product, home prices are soaring, especially in the single-family component of the market.

MARKETS AND FED POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Second quarter economic growth is setting up to be very solid if not even strong. The indicators that had gone south in the winter are coming back in the spring. Households are buying homes and vehicles, a clear sign that they are feeling better about their financial situations. We get May new home sales tomorrow and with builders’ optimism strong, I would expect that report to exceed expectations as well. But the big number this week is Thursday’s income and spending report. We know that retail sales were robust in May but we don’t have any idea about spending on services, which is two-thirds of consumption. If that shows another decent rise, then we could be getting a strong boost to GDP growth from consumption. With household spending and housing on the upswing, the next logical domino to fall would be business investment. Since the trade deficit is stabilizing, there is hard to find any real weakness in the economy. The Fed doesn’t seem to get that yet, but ultimately the members will figure it out. By the time Janet Yellen meets the press again in September, it will be hard for her to argue that she will need more support for a rate hike. As long as Greece doesn’t create too much chaos, there seems to be little standing in the way of strong growth the rest of the year and a rate hike in September.   That should be good news for investors, at least if they love U.S. companies. Yes, it means the Fed is going to do what it keeps saying it is going to do, but a stronger economy means that domestic companies should do well going forward.

KEY DATA: CPI: +0.4%; Excluding Food and Energy: +0.1%/ LEI: +0.7%/ Phila. Fed: +8.5 points/ Claims: -12,000

IN A NUTSHELL: “If the Fed needs confirmation that the economy is picking up steam, they got some of that today.”

WHAT IT MEANS: It is doubtful that Janet Yellen and her band of petrified monetary policy makers will throw caution to the wind and start raising rates like crazy. She made that quite clear yesterday. But she also said that the decision to start tightening, if you can call moving up from 0% to 0.25% is tightening, will be driven by the data. So, what are the data saying? On the inflation front, the disinflationary process looks like it is over. Consumer prices jumped, largely because of the rise in energy costs. Commodity prices were stagnant. Food, furniture, major appliances and apparel costs fell, but medical goods and new truck prices rose. On the other hand, the service component continues to show some gains and in May, rising airline fares led the way. Hospital services and rent were also up. Over the year, overall consumer costs were flat and core prices decelerated slightly. In other words, inflation is still not a major worry for the Fed. But with consumer costs rising sharply, real earnings fell slightly as the solid gain in hourly wages was offset by the faster rise in prices.

Philadelphia may not be the hot bed of manufacturing, but the Philadelphia Fed’s manufacturing index does tend to reflect manufacturing nationally. If the index rises, as it did sharply in early June, then that is a sign that we should be seeing a pick up in other measures, including the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index.

As for the labor market, the days of modest job gains, or make that the couple of months of subpar increases, also looks to be behind us. Jobless claims fell sharply and the 4-week moving average continues to trend downward. The level is consistent with strong monthly payroll increases and I expect that to be the case during the second half of this year.

MARKETS AND FED POLICY IMPLICATIONS: The Fed made it clear that once rate hikes begin, the process will be slow. Maybe. This is a group of forecasters that are poor “nowcasters”. If you don’t like their forecast, wait a meeting (6-7 weeks) and it will change. A strong June employment report could cause the forecasts to change. They will not start raising interest rates sharply, but the implied 100 basis points a year process makes very little sense. We are starting at zero, so even a one percent increase still keeps us nearly three percentage points below a “neutral” or long-term funds rate. Yesterday, Janet Yellen sounded like I do when I try to calm my somewhat hyper cat: “Now take it easy, Gibbs, things will be fine, don’t get excited”. He does start purring, just like investors have. But I still yell at him when he starts attacking his sister and if the economy picks up steam, don’t expect the Fed to be calm. They will raise rates more frequently than every other meeting. As for now, investors are purring but that calm will not last if the data keep coming in as strongly as they did today.