/perspectives/global-cio-outlook/falling-gas-prices-fuel-holiday-cheer

Falling Gas Prices Fuel Holiday Cheer

Rising equities and falling prices at the pump will bring holiday cheer, but be aware of potential headwinds as we head into 2015.

  Subscribe      Follow Guggenheim

November 19, 2014    |    By Scott Minerd

Global CIO Commentary by Scott Minerd

Economic data from Japan this week was much worse than expected. Japanese GDP decreased by an annualized 1.6 percent in the third quarter, despite forecasts that it would rebound by 2.2 percent. In Germany, the economy only narrowly avoided falling into a technical recession in the third quarter, expanding at 0.1 percent, a figure that will do little to alleviate concerns surrounding the euro zone’s main growth engine. Economic weakness around the world is being directly translated into the price of oil.

The short-term trajectory of oil prices will depend on a number of factors, including the growth outlook for Europe and Asia, as well as the global supply/demand dynamic. Despite the recent decline in market prices, producers in the Middle East have not yet cut back on production. With fracking having fundamentally increased output in the United States, I suspect that oil is at least ten dollars a barrel away from any kind of price support.

While gas prices at the pump have been heading lower recently, U.S. equities have been moving in the opposite direction. In this regard, the domestic economy will likely benefit from both the wealth effect of rising equity prices, as well as the consumer spending power released by the decline in gasoline prices. Lower gasoline prices act like a tax cut, leaving more money for American consumers to spend on other goods, which is likely to provide the U.S. economy with a boost as we head toward the all-important holiday shopping season.

Despite the positive backdrop for the nation’s economy, the current rally in U.S. equities has still not been confirmed in the NYSE Cumulative Advance/Decline Line and investors would be well advised to monitor this closely. Historically, a persistent divergence between the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Advance/Decline Line usually leads to a correction in equities. Whether or not the Advance/Decline Line can catch up with the increase in equity prices over the next few weeks will determine whether the current rally is sustainable.

Cheaper Gas Should Boost Holiday Spending

Due to plummeting oil prices, the cost of gasoline in the United States is now at the lowest level since 2010. Gasoline consumption as a share of total spending should fall in the fourth quarter due to lower prices, freeing up income for spending in other areas. Even if gasoline prices remain unchanged for the rest of the year, we project real discretionary consumption should rise by the most since the beginning of 2011, helping to spur GDP growth.

Gasoline Consumption and Real Discretionary Spending Growth*

GASOLINE CONSUMPTION AND REAL DISCRETIONARY SPENDING GROWTH

Source: Bloomberg, Haver, Guggenheim Investments. Data as of 11/17/2014. *Note: Data excludes recession periods. Discretionary spending is defined as personal consumption expenditures less food, energy, housing, and clothing expenditures.

Economic Data Releases

U.S. Economy Holding Up

  • Retail sales for October beat estimates, rising 0.3 percent. Sales, excluding autos and gas, were even stronger, rising 0.6 percent, with 11 of the 13 major categories showing growth.
  • Housing starts fell to an annualized pace of 1.01 million, down 2.8 percent from September. The drop was due to multi-family homes. Single family starts rose 4.2 percent.
  • Building permits increased to 1.08 million in October, reaching a post-recession high.
  • Existing home sales rose 1.5 percent in October to an annualized rate of 5.26 million, comfortably beating the 0.4 percent decline economists had predicted.
  • The year-over-year inflation rate remained at 1.7 percent in October.
  • The NAHB Housing Market Index rebounded in November to 58 from 54. Both present and future sales expectations rose.
  • The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index rose 0.9 percent in October after a revised 0.7 percent gain in September. Economists had predicted a 0.6 percent gain in October.
  • Industrial production fell 0.1 percent in October, an unexpected decline after September’s 0.8 percent increase. The decrease was largely from falling utility output due to bad weather.
  • Job openings were lower than expected in September at 4.74 million, but both the hiring rate and quit rate increased.
  • Initial jobless claims decreased to 291,000 for the week ending Nov. 15. Claims have been below 300,000 for 10 straight weeks.
  • University of Michigan Consumer Confidence continued to make multi-year highs in November, rising to 89.4.
  • The Producer Price Index rose in October from September’s levels, but ticked down to 1.5 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Weak Growth in the Euro Zone, Recession in Japan

  • GDP for the euro zone as a whole was slightly higher than expected in the third quarter at 0.2 percent.
  • The euro zone November manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index declined to 50.4 from October’s 50.6, while the region’s services PMI also witnessed a decline, falling to 51.3 from 52.3 in October.
  • Germany’s third-quarter GDP grew at 0.1 percent following a 0.1 percent decline from a quarter earlier. Growth was driven mostly by consumption.
  • The German ZEW Survey was better than expected in November, with the current situation index mostly flat while the expectations index rebounded to a four-month high.
  • Germany’s manufacturing PMI slipped from 51.4 in October to the no change level of 50.0. Germany’s services PMI is still expanding, but the pace of growth in activity fell from 54.4 in October to 52.1 in November.
  • French GDP surprised to the upside in the third quarter, growing at 0.3 percent. The previous quarter was revised into negative territory.
  • The pace of decline in the French manufacturing PMI has accelerated to 47.6 in November from 48.5 in October. The French services PMI saw its pace of decline ease to 48.8 in November from 48.3 in October.
  • GDP in Italy fell for a second consecutive quarter in the third quarter. The Italian economy has not had positive quarterly growth since mid-2011.
  • China’s fixed-asset investments slowed to 15.9 percent year over year in October, a nearly 13-year low.
  • Chinese retail sales growth decreased to 11.5 percent year over year in October, the lowest since 2006.
  • Industrial production in China missed expectations in the October reading, cooling to 7.7 percent year-over-year growth.
  • China’s HSBC manufacturing PMI fell to 50.0 in November from 50.4 in October, a six-month low.
  • Japan’s third-quarter GDP was unexpectedly negative at a 1.6 percent annualized decline, pushing Japan into a technical recession. Domestic demand was especially weak, dragging down growth.
  • Japanese year-over-year exports grew 9.6 percent in October, the fastest pace of growth in eight months.

FEATURED PERSPECTIVES

November 27, 2023

Corporate Credit Quarterly Insights - November 2023

Market and portfolio update from our Corporate Credit team

November 20, 2023

Fourth Quarter 2023 Fixed-Income Sector Views

Consistent strategy through volatility.

October 27, 2023

Technical Support Remains Strong but Fundamental Pressures to Grow in 2024

Credit challenges to come as the economy slows.

VIDEOS AND PODCASTS

2022’s Upside: The Fed Has Put the Income Back in Fixed Income 

2022’s Upside: The Fed Has Put the Income Back in Fixed Income

Anne Walsh, Chief Investment Officer for Fixed Income at Guggenheim Investments, joined Asset TV to discuss macroeconomic conditions, risk, and relative value in the bond market.

Macro Markets Podcast 

Macro Markets Podcast Episode 26: Mortgage-Backed Securities, Structured Credit, Market Liquidity

Karthik Narayanan, Head of Securitized for Guggenheim Investments, discusses value in the residential mortgage-backed securities market and other ABS sectors. Anne Walsh, Chief Investment Officer for Fixed Income, answers a listener question on liquidity. Jerry Cai, an economist in our Macroeconomic and Investment Research Group, brings the latest on the labor picture and an update on China.




Subscribe to Our Perspectives
 
PRIVACY POLICY
BUSINESS CONTINUITY
LEGAL INFORMATION

Read a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the investment objective, risks charges, expenses and the other information, which should be considered carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) click here or call 800.820.0888.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.

Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, Guggenheim Partners Japan Limited, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, and Guggenheim Partners India Management. Securities offered through Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC.

© Guggenheim Investments. All rights reserved.

Research our firm with FINRA Broker Check.

• Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value

This website is directed to and intended for use by citizens or residents of the United States of America only. The material provided on this website is not intended as a recommendation or as investment advice of any kind, including in connection with rollovers, transfers, and distributions. Such material is not provided in a fiduciary capacity, may not be relied upon for or in connection with the making of investment decisions, and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. All content has been provided for informational or educational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and/or a legal opinion. Always consult a financial, tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.