2. Economics and Finance in a Two-Percent Economy Las Vegas Economic Club
John E. Silvia, Chief Economist
December 15, 2016

3. Five benchmarks for good decision making
Where Are We Now?
Five benchmarks for good decision making
Interest Rates
Inflation
Growth
Profits
The Dollar
Source:

4. Wells Fargo vs. Consensus
How do we compare to consensus?
Expectations for the Future
Sustained trend growth, no recession in the forecast
Employment—cyclical and structural change
Consumer solid
Housing improving—single-family picking up
Unsustainable long-run fiscal policy
Europe growth remains steady post-Brexit
China growth slower for 2016, 2017

5. Sustained Growth—Great Divide Between Domestic and Trade
Trend growth at percent in the year ahead. Consumer and housing lead, but trade will remain a drag.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce and Wells Fargo Securities

6. Potential Growth—Little Help From Productivity
Productivity growth has downshifted over the past cycle
Source: U.S. Department of Labor and Wells Fargo Securities

7. Potential Growth—Little Help from Labor
Labor supply growth is slowing, particularly for prime-age workers. The share of marginally attached workers remains elevated.
Working Age Population
Labor Force Participation
Source: U.S. Department of Labor and Wells Fargo Securities 7

8. Personal Income
Income growth has finally begun to turn around but still lags prior recoveries
Source: U.S. Department of Labor and Wells Fargo Securities

9. Household Debt Delinquencies: Student Loans the Exception
Tighter credit standards and a strengthening economy have helped to improve the credit position of households over the past few years—with the exception of student debt
Source: FRBNY and Wells Fargo Securities

10. High valuations have caught the Fed’s attention
Property Prices
High valuations have caught the Fed’s attention
Source: RCA and Wells Fargo Securities

11. Composition of Federal Spending Federal Debt Continues to Rise
Federal Fiscal Policy
The composition of federal spending has shifted dramatically.
The CBO projects that the debt-to-GDP ratio will surpass 85 percent by 2026.
Composition of Federal Spending
Federal Debt Continues to Rise
Source: Congressional Budget Office and Wells Fargo Securities 11

12. Inflation & Interest Rates
Core
Inflation
Interest
Rates
Inflation
Growth
Key
Drivers
Yield
Curve
The Dollar
Profits
Wage-Price
Spiral
Market
Expectations

13. Inflation: Rising Toward the Two Percent Target
Inflation remains historically low, but we expect to see a pickup in coming quarters – average less than 2% since 1991
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce and Wells Fargo Securities 13

14. Inflation: A Divide in Goods vs. Services
Inflation for services has been much firmer than for commodities
Source: U.S. Department of Labor and Wells Fargo Securities

15. Pace of Policy Firming: We Say One Hike in 2016, Two in 2017
There remains variation between the market and Fed officials about the appropriate path of the fed funds rate, but the gap has narrowed post-election
Source: Federal Reserve Board, Bloomberg LP and Wells Fargo Securities

16. Yield Curve
The yield curve flattened after the Taper Tantrum in 2013 but steepened post-election. We expect a flatter yield curve as 2017 progresses.
Source: Federal Reserve Board and Wells Fargo Securities

17. S&P Revenues Earned Abroad
IT and Materials earn the highest share of their revenues abroad, making those industries the most at risk to the stronger dollar—Invoicing in dollars?
Source: Bloomberg LP and Wells Fargo Securities

18. Corporate Profits
Corporate profits as a share of gross value added remains historically high but is now past its peak
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce and Wells Fargo Securities

19. Five Takeaways
Growth
Continued moderate growth led by domestic consumer and housing
Inflation
Rising, but is the pace slow enough to delay Fed move?
Interest Rates
Rising short rates, but relatively flat long rates as capital flows favor the U.S.
Dollar
Stronger dollar as rates and growth favor U.S.
Profits
A late cycle slowdown

20. U.S. Forecast
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Labor, Federal Reserve Board, Freddie Mac and Wells Fargo Securities

21. Appendix

22. Wells Fargo Economics Group Publications
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23. Wells Fargo Securities Economics Group
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John E. Silvia
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Jay H. Bryson, Global Economist
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