After adjusting for inflation, US retail sales fell 1.3% over the last year, the 9th consecutive YoY decline
That's the longest down streak since 2009. Nominal retail sales increased 2% YoY vs. a historical average of 4.7%. Source: Charlie Bilello
US stock market current mood in one picture
Source: Heisenberg - Mr_Derivatives
From T.I.N.A (There Is No Alternatives to Risk assets) to T.A.R.A (There Are Reasonable Alternatives)... 6-months US T-bills yield 94bps more than the S&P's earnings yield...
Source: Bloomberg
Comparable countries bounced post-COVID, but US did not
~1 million Americans have died of OD’s just since 2010; that’s more than the # of Americans that died in all wars America has ever fought in. Source: The Economist Via Dan R Dimicco thru Luke Gromen
US average mortgage rates just surged above 7.5% for the first time in 23 years
There are some reasons why US house prices haven’t crashed: 1. Buyers can’t afford the rates; 2. Sellers would be insane to sell a home with a significantly lower rate to buy another at 7.5%. Market is frozen. The economy is currently experiencing a significant tightening of financial conditions, largely driven by the persisting fragility in the Treasury market. The bill will come due at some point. Source: Crescat Capital, The Wolf of All Streets
1971 vs NOW
The average U.S. annual income in 1971 paid off a house in ~2.5 years, could buy 3 new cars in a year, send 4 kids to Harvard in a year and easily afford food, shelter, necessities and entertainment. Does the older generation understand the difficulties the young face today? Source: Gabor Gurbacs
Only 16% of Californians can afford to buy a home, a situation that is unfortunately not unique to the state, but where they are leading the way
Source: Markets & Mayhem, Bloomberg
The comeback of bond vigilantes: US 10y real rates have jumped to 1.77%, almost the highest level since 2009
Source: Bloomberg, HolgerZ
