U.S. equity markets traded higher through the holiday shortened week, boosted by expectations for a December rate cut and renewed enthusiasm for the AI trade. Meanwhile, economic data out this week reinforced the narrative that some sluggishness has materialized in the U.S. economy. The S&P 500 is looking to end the week higher by over 3%, more than erasing last week’s losses and is now up 16% year-to-date. Treasury yields dipped by a few basis points on the week, with the 10-year currently hovering around 4%.

Fed futures have been on a wild ride recently. Just over a week ago, markets attached a roughly one-third probability to a December rate cut. But since then, two Fed officials who hew closely to Chair Powell, including NY Fed President John Williams and San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly (non-voting member) voiced support for a December rate cut. Pricing has since swung back to over 80% (Chart 1). The Fed doesn’t tend to fight the market and with the decision just over a week away, a further trimming in the policy rate looks to be a safe bet. Though if ADP employment data were to surprise to the upside next week, odds may yet shift again. 

Turning to this week’s economic data releases, retail figures for September showed that spending slowed at the end of the third quarter – putting Q4 on a shakier footing. The softening in September spending isn’t entirely surprising. Measures of consumer sentiment have nosedived recently, with the Conference Board’s November reading slipping to its lowest level since April and second lowest reading since the depths of the 2020 Global Pandemic (Chart 2). Survey details show that consumers’ assessment of job availability is particularly downbeat, as are prospects for making ‘larger purchases’ over the next six months. While shifts in consumer confidence metrics have proven to be a less reliable predictor of spending patterns post-pandemic, the steady downward trend across multiple measures suggests the direction of travel is likely to be lower over the near-term. 

This was further confirmed in the Fed’s Beige Book, which noted that overall consumer spending had ‘declined further’ in recent months, even though higher-end retail spending remained resilient. The Fed’s contacts chalked some of the weakness up to the government shutdown, and a pullback in EV sales following the expiration of the federal tax credit. However, the softening labor market also likely had some influence, with the majority of Districts seeing a decline in hiring and about half noting weaker labor demand. Importantly, employers across most Districts reported limiting headcounts using hiring freezes, ‘replacement-only’ hiring and attrition rather than through layoffs. 

This reinforces the ‘low hire, low fire’ narrative’ (see report). But it’s a precarious balance, and one where the downside risks have the potential to materialize very quickly. While this supports the case for a bit more easing in the fed funds rate, still elevated inflation and a policy stance that is quickly closing in on neutral are important considerations that can’t be overlooked. Bringing the policy rate much lower runs the risk of putting the Fed out of position in the event the labor market were to firm in the months ahead.