Omen? — Oregon’s 2nd straight month of decline

By Tim Duy,
Oregon Economic Forum



The University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators™ fell 0.2 percent to 91.0 (1997=100) in May 2011, compared to a revised 91.2 the previous month. This is the second consecutive monthly decline.

Highlights of the report include:

• Labor markets were generally soft. Initial unemployment claims remained unexpectedly high considering that last month’s gain was attributed to special factors. The higher level, however, is consistent with a backup in claims in the national economy. Employment services payrolls – largely temporary employment – fell from an upwardly revised April figure.

• On a positive note, core manufacturing orders gained, while the April figure was revised higher. Still, orders adjusted for inflation are flat compared to December; this indicator has certainly lost the momentum seen for much of 2010.

• Consumer confidence (smoothed with a five month moving average) was flat in April. The rise in commodity prices, particularly for oil, became a significant drag on consumers in the second quarter, with inflation adjusted personal consumption spending negative in both April and May.

• The interest rate spread narrowed sharply as increasing economic uncertainty drove market participants into US Treasuries, pushing down interest rates.

• Rising commodity prices combined with the underlying drag of a weak housing market and spending weakness on the part of state and local governments to slow the pace of economic growth in the first half of this year. While the weaker data is not consistent with an impending recession, it is certainly a disappointment considering the stronger momentum evident at the end of 2010 and serves as a reminder that the pace of recovery has proven to be relatively slow.

SAVE THE DATE!

The 8th Annual Oregon Economic Forum
The Governor Hotel
Portland, OR

October 20, 2011
0730am – 1130am

To register, please visit: econforum.uoregon.edu

The Oregon Economic Forum is in its eight year of bringing you timely, in-depth analysis of the national and local economies. As the upward momentum of late 2010 fades, new questions emerge. How sustainable is the recovery? Should the European debt crisis serve as a warning for policymakers? Should we heed this warning and start aggressively paring deficits now, or is it simply premature to turn to policy austerity? How does Oregon’s recovery compare to the nation and the region? What’s in store next for Oregon and the United States? Please join us as we explore the trends that will shape Oregon’s economy in 2012.

This year we are bringing two outside speakers. We are excited to have Brad DeLong, professor of economics at the University of California at Berkeley, to discuss the likelihood of a European-type debt crisis in the United States. We are equally excited to bring Glenn Rudebusch, Senior Vice President and Associate Director of the Economic Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Glenn will bring his insightful analysis of the direction of the US economy. We will also continue our tradition of bringing economists from the University of Oregon, including Forum Director Tim Duy. In addition to a an Oregon economy 2012 preview, Tim will present new research on state and regional economic indicators?

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, KeyBank. Additional sponsors who help make this event possible include The Portland Business Journal, the Portland Business Alliance, the Port of Portland, and Ashforth Pacific. We also received support from the US Delegation of the European Commission

Timothy A. Duy
Director, Oregon Economic Forum
Director, Undergradute Studies
Department of Economics
University of Oregon – 1285
Eugene, OR 97403-1285


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