Eurodollar University

The Chinese have sold a record amount of US Treasuries. Again. Most mainstream explanations point to political motives including many asserting an intentional act to move away from the dollar. The actual reason is indeed monetary but not at all in that way. The important immediate implications tell us a lot about the conditions for the globally synchronized economy.Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg China Sells Record Sum of US Debt Amid Signs of Diversificationhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-16/china-sells-record-sum-of-us-debt-amid-signs-of-diversificationCNN China has teased how it might fix its property crisis. Markets are loving ithttps://www.cnn.com/2024/05/16/business/china-property-crisis-unsold-homes-hnk-intl/index.htmlChina NBS Basic situation of the national real estate market from January to April 2024https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202405/t20240517_1955760.htmlhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

A major global central bank would never hike rates during a prolonged recession, would it? You might be surprised to find out the answer is a solid, yes. Not only did it just happen, the reasons why tell us a whole lot about the real aim of central bank policies, where they come from, and, more important of all, the status of our globally synchronized world. The cycle drama just got taken up a notch. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg Japan’s Economy Sputters as Dismal Run Extends to Three Quartershttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-15/japan-s-economy-contracts-as-consumers-companies-cut-spendingReuters Japan's economy skids, clouding BOJ's rate hike planshttps://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/japans-gdp-contracts-complicating-bojs-rate-hike-plans-2024-05-16/Reuters Japan's finmin says 'speculative' moves in currency market impacting yenhttps://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/japans-finance-minister-sees-speculative-moves-currency-market-2024-04-01/Investing.com Japan GDP shrinks more than expected in Q1 as consumption slowshttps://www.investing.com/news/economic-indicators/japan-gdp-shrinks-more-than-expected-in-q1-as-consumption-slows-3443154https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

They called it the most important economic update in living memory, holding the key to everything from inflation to economy and interest rates. When it came out, it wasn't what everyone thought and even more interesting those numbers ended up being overshadowed by another set alarmingly consistent with everything else we've been seeing lately. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBLS April US CPI press releasehttps://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdfBloomberg Here Are the Key Takeaways From US CPI Report for Aprilhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-15/us-cpi-report-april-2024-key-takeaways-on-inflation-core-measureBloomberg US Retail Sales Stall After Downward Revisions in Prior Monthshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-15/us-retail-sales-stall-after-downward-revisions-in-prior-monthsCNN The backbone of America’s economy was just dealt a serious blowhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/05/15/economy/us-retail-sales-april/index.htmlhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

When the person who is supposed to help you find a job finds out they no longer have one themselves, that's a warning sign about the economy. Those have been proliferating lately and mostly focused on employment. This fits nicely (in a bad way) into other late cycle signals coming across including a sharp rise in consumer credit delinquencies. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisIndeed Message from CEOhttps://www.indeed.com/press/releases/a-message-from-our-ceo-chris-hyams-2FRBNY HOUSEHOLD DEBT AND CREDIT REPORT (Q1 2024)https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc.htmlLiberty Street Economics Delinquency Is Increasingly in the Cards for Maxed‑Out Borrowershttps://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2024/05/delinquency-is-increasingly-in-the-cards-for-maxed-out-borrowers/https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

China's total credit in April actually fell for only the third time and by the most ever. Clearly the government is alarmed by that as well as the distinct lack of traction in the real economy (more deflation in producer prices, minimal gains in consumer prices). We'll go over what was just reported, what the government's next government plan is likely to be, and what the market(s) reaction(s) has(have) been. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisNYT Biden Looks to Thwart Surge of Chinese Importshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/us/politics/biden-china-imports.htmlWSJ China Hints at New Growth Push as it Warns of Rising Uncertaintieshttps://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-calls-long-delayed-policy-meeting-warning-of-rising-uncertainties-032fb571https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

There is a resurgence underway not from consumer prices as everyone thinks, instead the use of the term "stagflation." This is really nothing more than the shift in narrative attempting to incorporate more visible economic weakness while still keeping it the idea "inflation." But as the former takes the forefront, the latter will continue to fade until what's left isn't even stagnation. Eurodollar University's conversation w/Steve Van Metrehttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Another critical economic measures shows big negative changes and they aren't "inflation" problems. It's not just that American consumers are cracking, the consistent theme which keeps coming up over and over is jobs. The US labor market has been stuck in half a recession already, is this now the other half?Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisUofM Surveys of Consumershttp://www.sca.isr.umich.edu/CNBC Consumer sentiment tumbles as inflation fears surge, closely watched survey showshttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/10/consumer-sentiment-tumbles-as-inflation-fears-surge-closely-watched-survey-shows.htmlhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

The one news article in the media said it all; more companies are now cutting their prices despite inflation. Except, no, it isn't in spite of other price changes, instead in response to them. The economy isn't inflationary, it is weak and getting weaker. Eye opening new data is alarmingly consistent with the price cuts. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisCNN Retailers jacked up prices and squeezed consumers. They might have just blinkedhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/business/retailers-cutting-prices/index.htmlMichaels Lowers Prices on Thousands of Arts, Crafts and DIY Itemshttps://www.michaelspressroom.com/news/detail/2293/michaels-lowers-prices-on-thousands-of-arts-crafts-and-diyhttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

Japan's government conducted three (unconfirmed) major currency interventions in less than a week. Already JPY is falling almost like they never happened. It's the dollar that's the matter because what's the matter isn't just Japan and like a lot of things energy is the key. As the Japanese understand all too well, energy means dollars. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro AnalysisBloomberg BOJ’s Ueda Ramps Up Yen Warnings While Traders Keep Sellinghttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-08/boj-s-ueda-tweaks-weak-yen-remarks-in-possible-hint-of-rate-hikehttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

FreightWaves Texas’ Arnold Transportation acquired by Canada’s Pride Group Logisticshttps://www.freightwaves.com/news/texas-arnold-transportation-acquired-by-canadas-pride-group-logisticsGlobal NewsWire Pride Group Logistics Expands U.S. Presence With the Acquisition of Arnold Transportation Services, Inc.https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/02/01/2377007/0/en/Pride-Group-Logistics-Expands-U-S-Presence-With-the-Acquisition-of-Arnold-Transportation-Services-Inc.htmlFreightWaves 92-year-old Texas trucking company files for bankruptcy liquidationhttps://www.freightwaves.com/news/92-year-old-texas-trucking-company-files-for-bankruptcy-liquidationInvestopedia  Etsy Stock Dives as Retailer Warns of 'Challenging Environment' for Consumer Spendinghttps://www.investopedia.com/etsy-q1-2024-earnings-weak-consumer-spending-8642325ISM Services April 2024https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-report-on-business/services/april/Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysishttps://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU