National Economic Outlook - January 2019

Written By: Ingo Winzer, President of Local Market Monitor, Inc.

The economy is always changing, even though economists routinely pretend the data from one period can be directly compared with data from another. Some of the interesting changes can be seen by looking at the types of jobs the economy is creating.

For example, in 2018, of the 2.7 million new jobs created, 130,000 were at management and computer consulting companies, 100,000 at temp agencies, 160,000 at warehouse and delivery companies, and 280,000 in manufacturing.

The manufacturing jobs probably reflect more production from highly-automated factories that can now compete with imports; the warehouse and delivery jobs reflect the rise of on-line shopping; the consulting jobs show that companies are trying to adapt to a new environment; and the temp jobs show that companies are more aware of fluctuating demand for their products.

Computerized manufacturing and shopping are with us to stay, we’ll see more of that. But temp and consulting jobs will be the first to go when the economy slows down, an instability built into the system.

In December, total jobs were up 1.8 percent from last year. Jobs were up 2.8 percent in business services, 2.3 percent in manufacturing, 2.3 percent in healthcare, 2.2 percent at restaurants, and 1.3 percent in finance. Unemployment increased slightly, to 3.9 percent.

National Economic Outlook - December 2018

Written By: Ingo Winzer, President of Local Market Monitor, Inc.

Because homes are so expensive, income is an important way to look at real estate markets. The disturbing fact is that average income - adjusted for inflation - has remained almost the same for the past 15 years, cycling between $29,000 and $31,000. This is the median income, half of workers make more, half make less. If that’s how much money you make, you can’t buy a home (unless, of course, there are two of you).

Another way to see income is through IRS data. 80 million tax payers make less than $50,000 a year. 25 million make more than $100,000. And 30 million are in the middle. The 80 million mostly rent, the 25 million already own a home. The 30 million are the swing vote - they may rent, they may be first-time home buyers. Their economic future will have a lot to say about real estate.

In November, total jobs were up 1.6 percent from last year. Jobs were up 2.7 percent in business services, 2.2 percent in manufacturing, 2 percent in healthcare, 1.8 percent at restaurants, and 1.4 percent in finance. Jobs in retail and government were essentially flat.

While the job situation remains adequate, home prices in some large markets are leaping higher – so much higher that the danger of local real estate bubbles is again with us. Who would have thought so just five years ago? I don’t think either a recession or a real estate bust is at hand – yet. But a soft landing for either the economy or real estate markets is always wishful thinking. And bad news for one always makes the other worse.