Local Market Monitor’s National Economic Outlook for September

Local Market Monitor, a National REIA preferred vendor, recently released their National Economic Outlook for September, 2019 where they share their thoughts on developments taking place in the U.S. economy.

National Economic Outlook – September 2019

By Ingo Winzer

The number of jobs in August was up just 1.4 percent from last year, the smallest increase in the last two years, and down significantly from the 2 percent rate of January. Any further slowing will be the worst since the big recession.

That won’t necessarily lead to another recession – certainly not one of that epic scale – but the slowing of job growth in every major sector in the last few months suggests that an easy fix is not in the works because the economic problem is system-wide.

It’s much easier for the US economy to go into recession these days because it’s mainly a service economy. It’s easy for consumers to cut back on services if they feel a bit pinched. You need food, shelter, your car, your phone, some clothes – but you don’t need the extra latte, the extra movie, you can put off the trip to the Rockies, you might even delay that visit to the doctor.

Jobs in August were up 2.4 percent in healthcare, 2.1 percent in business services, 1.9 percent at restaurants, 1.3 percent in finance and 1 percent in manufacturing. Jobs were down in retail and almost flat in government.

Construction jobs increased 2.3 percent, not even half the 5 percent rate of January. A further slowing will mean that businesses are delaying new projects.

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About the Author: Ingo Winzer is President of Local Market Monitor, and has analyzed real estate markets for more than 20 years. His views on real estate markets are often quoted in the national press and in 2005, he warned that many housing markets were dangerously over-priced. Previously, Ingo was a founder and Executive Vice President of First Research, an industry research company that was acquired by Dun and Bradstreet in March 2007. He is a graduate of MIT and holds an MBA in Finance from Boston University. He resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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