June Producer Prices, Industrial Production and 2nd Quarter Workforce Vitality Index

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.