The Daily Capitalist: The Truth About Consumer Spending Reports

Media cheerleading notwithstanding, the Obama stimulus package amounts to empty promises

By Jeff Harding | Published on 06.28.2009

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If one just read the headlines from Friday’s Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg.com, one would assume the Obama administration’s stimulus package is a resounding success. But a close review of the numbers reveals exactly the opposite. I talked about this Wednesday in my article, “Why the Fed Didn’t (and won’t) Raise Interest Rates,” saying that Friday’s consumer spending report would be interesting. It was.

First, the savings rate, at 6.9 percent was the largest increase since 1993, and the biggest dollar amount since 1959 when they first started tracking this number. It means people are repairing their personal balance sheets in the face of an uncertain future. This is a good thing for the economy because it will provide the capital for future growth.

Second, real personal consumption expenditures (consumer spending adjusted for inflation) increased 0.3 percent over April when it decreased by 0.1 percent. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the expenditures were largely related to auto sales as dealers struggle to cut inventory. People like deals.

Third, personal income increased 1.4 percent and disposable personal income (after tax) increased 1.6 percet. The BEA reported that the increases were due to tax cuts and Social Security payments:

The lion’s share (94.3 percent) of the increase in income came from one-time increases of $250 per eligible recipient of Social Security, supplemental security, veterans benefits and railroad retirement benefits. The $13.1 billion of these transfers boosted May income by about $158 billion (annualized). These transfers are not recurring so incomes will fall by a like amount in June. Spending from this actual $13.1 billion is likely to be spread out over several months, or even years if recipients use the proceeds to increase saving or reduce debt. (Source: Nomura Global Economics)

Fourth, private wages and salaries cratered in May:

Private wage and salary disbursements decreased $12.4 billion in May, compared with a decrease of $0.7 billion in April. Goods-producing industries’ payrolls decreased $12.9 billion, compared with a decrease of $12.2 billion a month earlier; manufacturing payrolls decreased $9.8 billion, compared with a decrease of $4.9 billion in April. Services-producing industries’ payrolls increased $0.5 billion, compared with an increase of $11.5 billion a month earlier. Government wage and salary disbursements increased $3.9 billion, compared with April’s increase of $5.7 billion (JH: Here’s a growth industry).

The implication of these numbers is that they are big:

... Yesterday’s revised GDP data show that during the first quarter, aggregate wage and salary disbursements fell on a year-over-year basis. While this may not seem much of a surprise, this is the first over-the-year decline in wage and salary disbursements since the second quarter of 1958. While the rate of job losses appears to have moderated, employment is nonetheless still declining, as are aggregate hours and aggregate labor earnings. (Source: Richard F. Moody, Forward Capital)

Yet, Bloomberg reads the same data and reports:

Consumer spending rose in May as benefits from the Obama administration’s stimulus plan spurred a jump in American incomes, a sign that efforts to revive the economy are starting to pay off.

The Wall Street Journal story leads off with:

The income of Americans soared in May because of the government’s economic stimulus, leading them to increase spending modestly and boost the saving rate to the highest in 15 years.

Ladies and gentlemen, they have absolutely no basis for these statements. It’s just cheerleading. These one-time stimuli are just that: one time and not lasting.

— Jeff Harding is a principal of Montecito Realty Investors LLC. A student of economics, he has a strong affinity for free-market economics. This commentary originally appeared on his blog, The Daily Capitalist.

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» sbnative wrote on 06.28.09 @ 05:06 AM

The TRUTH is ugly, but thank you for telling it. Those of us who work with “consumers” know every well what you say is true. It’s scary as hell out there, and more and more businesses in Santa Barbara (as all over) are closing. We might want to think we live in a safe little bubble here, and no doubt most of the liberal lefties in this town who voted for the Bystander-in-Chief won’t want to admit they made a MISTAKE voting for Obama in the throes of infatuation… But the proof is all around us. Crumbling day by day. Rushed “stimulus” bills, firing of inspector generals who DARE to investigate corruption of abuse of stimulus dollars (Google Gerarld Walpin for more) etc. Chicago-style thuggery ain’t gonna save anyone but Obama’s friends. Are you on that list?

» Jeff Harding wrote on 06.28.09 @ 09:56 AM

Gee, I wish I were on someone’s hit list. I love a good fight. Thank you for your commentary. I agree with your thoughts on the spendfest. No one seems to worry about where the money comes from or how it will be repaid.

» Lawyers have chased business out wrote on 06.28.09 @ 11:08 AM

The one thing that has been overlooked is tort reform. The trial lawyers are chasing millions of company’s over the last 20 years to other county’s—The law needs to change—you sue—you lose—you pay…

 

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