Timothy Duy
Director, Oregon Economic Forum
The UO Index fell slightly in May, down 0.1 percentage points. The relative stability over the past three months, however, is a welcome relief after many months of steady decline and is consistent with a recent pattern of economic stabilization, both state and nationwide. Highlights include:
• Initial jobless claims edged downward, but remain at high levels. Ongoing high levels of initial claims would be consistent with the “jobless recovery” scenario, in which economic growth is insufficient to generate net positive job growth.
• Residential housing permits continue to decline, more evidence that the housing recovery – or even stabilization – remains elusive. High unemployment and tighter credit continue to weigh on the sector.
• New orders for core manufactured goods jumped, an indication that firms are no longer cutting investment spending. If this trend is sustained, it would feed through to stabilizing and eventually stronger manufacturing activity in Oregon in the months ahead.
• The pace of economic deterioration has slowed markedly, and while the Oregon economy likely remains in recession in May, the improvement in the 6 month annualized change in the UO Index is consistent with the recession (period of negative growth) ending in the second half of 2009. Without a clear upward turn in the UO Index itself, it would be premature, however, to decisively declare that the recession has ended.
• Even after the recession ends, economic growth is likely to be anemic for an extended period of time as activity continues to adjust to a reversion to more traditional credit underwriting standards.
SPECIAL INVITATION FROM THE OREGON ECONOMIC FOURM:
We are pleased to announce the 6th annual Oregon Economic Forum: The Economy Under Obama: Assessing the First Nine Months, Looking Toward the Future.
October 22, 2009, Portland,OR
The Obama Administration came to office facing a financial market in shambles and an economy in crisis, a situation that required quick and decisive policy initiatives on fiscal stimulus and banking policy. Ten months later what has been the impact of those programs, for the nation and for Oregon? Did the Administration jumpstart economic activity, or are we looking at a prolonged period of economic weakness? And what is next on the agenda – in particular, what are the Administration’s plans for entitlement programs? Will Medicare and Social Security reform be on the agenda, and what shape would those reforms take?
REGISTRATION SOON AVAILABLE
For more information, visit http://econforum.uoregon.edu
Special thanks to KeyBank, presenting sponsor of the 2009 Oregon Economic Forum
Disclaimer: Articles featured on Oregon Report are the creation, responsibility and opinion of the authoring individual or organization which is featured at the top of every article.