IC Insights revises U.S. economic outlook

IC Insights estimates that 1H12 U.S. GDP growth was 1.7%, slightly lower than the 2.0% full-year U.S. GDP growth rate that IC Insights forecasts for 2012. It is generally agreed that the most significant factor that has been holding back the U.S. economy from displaying better GDP growth is the high unemployment level, which remained above 8.0% as of July 2012. Overall, the U.S. employment picture has improved dramatically since the 2008-2009 recession when the U.S. economy lost an average of 256,000 jobs per month, but not enough to spur consistent quarterly GDP growth above 3.0%. Although the monthly change figure for U.S. employment is typically erratic, the downward trend in the number of jobs added in the U.S. since January 2012 has many economists concerned. IC Insights believes that in order for its 2012 2.0% U.S. GDP growth rate forecast to come to fruition, the number of jobs added over the next eight months in the U.S. needs to average at least 150,000 per month, which is the average number of jobs per month that were added from January through July of this year. Another indicator for the U.S. economy that IC Insights uses is the Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI), compiled by The Conference Board. This Index includes factors such as manufacturers’ new orders, stock prices, building permits, money supply, average initial weekly claims for unemployment, interest rates, and the index of consumer expectations. Historical LEI figures are very volatile and one should not read too much into one month’s data point. However, the LEI for 1Q12 averaged 0.4% and the LEI averaged 0.0% in 2Q12, adding to the overall uncertainty regarding the worldwide economy at this time. The indicators reflect an economy that’s still struggling to gain momentum. Growth is slow, but choppy, and consumers, executives and investors are looking for more progress.