Stocks dipped lower last week as traders mulled the direction of the economy as the Federal Reserve continued to increase interest rates, bolstered by January’s strong labor report. With fourth-quarter corporate earnings reporting season nearing a close, fewer companies are topping profit expectations, which may be another indication of a slowing economy. Each of the benchmark indexes posted weekly losses, with the S&P 500 turning in its worst weekly performance of the year. The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose 21.0 basis points as bond prices declined. Crude oil prices jumped late last week following Russia’s announcement that it plans to cut oil production by about 5.0% next month in retaliation against Western oil sanctions. The dollar inched higher, while gold prices slipped lower.
Last Week’s Economic News
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The monthly report on the international trade in goods and services deficit, released February 7, is for December and shows that the goods and services trade deficit was $67.4 billion, up $6.4 billion from the November trade deficit. December exports were $250.2 billion, $2.2 billion less than November exports. December imports were $317.6 billion, $4.2 billion more than November imports. For 2022, the goods and services trade deficit increased $103.0 billion, or 12.2%, from 2021. Exports increased $453.1 billion, or 17.7%. Imports increased $556.1 billion, or 16.3%.
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The Treasury budget deficit was $38.8 billion in January, down from December’s $85.0 billion, but well above the January 2022 surplus of $118.7 billion. Through the first four months of fiscal year 2023, the deficit sits at $460.2 billion, $201.2 billion higher than the deficit over the same period last fiscal year.
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Average regular retail gas prices slid lower last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The national average retail price for regular gasoline was $3.444 per gallon on February 6, $0.045 per gallon less than the prior week’s price and unchanged from a year ago. Also, as of February 6, the East Coast price decreased $0.060 to $3.406 per gallon; the Gulf Coast price dipped $0.041 to $3.092 per gallon; the Midwest price fell $0.085 to $3.297 per gallon; the West Coast price increased $0.022 to $4.107 per gallon; and the Rocky Mountain price advanced $0.150 to $3.694 per gallon. Residential heating oil prices averaged $4.465 per gallon on February 6, $0.192 below the previous week’s price but $0.547 per gallon more than a year ago.
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For the week ended February 4, there were 196,000 new claims for unemployment insurance, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week’s level. According to the Department of Labor, the advance rate for insured unemployment claims for the week ended January 28 was 1.2%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week’s rate. The advance number of those receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the week ended January 28 was 1,688,000, an increase of 38,000 from the previous week’s level, which was revised down by 5,000.
Eye on the Week Ahead
The latest inflation data is available this week with the release of the consumer price index, the producer price index, and the report on import and export prices. Inflationary pressures appear to have peaked. This latest information could show prices beginning to slide, which reinforces the effectiveness of the Fed’s aggressive interest-rate hike policy.
Have a nice week!
Sincerely,
Robert G. Carpenter