Economists rely on a variety of indicators to try and get a read on the economy. But the apparent connection between certain data points and trends and future activity isn’t always obvious or straightforward.
That doesn’t seem to be the case in regard to the connection between retail sales and employment. Indeed, it makes sense that concerns about the job market would be quickly felt when it comes to household spending. If workers fear they might lose their jobs, they don’t wait until they get the bad news before cutting back.
More broadly, if a large enough number of workers believes the job market is deteriorating, then it’s a good bet the overall trend of retail sales will signal the change before the payroll data does.
As the following chart shows, this has been the pattern previously. Under the circumstances, the latest readings on the pace of retail sales suggest it’s only a matter of time before the headline employment data reveals that the jobs market is heading south.
Polska chce zablokować umowę o wolnym handlu z krajami Ameryki Południowej. Powodem są głównie obawy rolników o konkurencyjność ich produktów. W jaki sposób realizacja umowy z Mercosur może wpłynąć na unijne rolnictwo i jakie mogą być też jej inne skutki?
