The Daily Shot Brief – December 22nd, 2017

Greetings,   The United States: After the financial crisis, Americans with high credit scores were prioritizing credit card payments ahead of mortgage payments. Car payments remain ahead of everything else. However, subprime auto debt delinquencies at non-bank lenders keep climbing. Many of these firms dipped into “deep subprime,” a decision that’s becoming costly.   China: Elevated …

The Daily Shot Brief – December 15th, 2017

Greetings,   The United States: Overall, American’s net-worth has been climbing, but the improvements have been highly uneven. That’s why the mean net worth is now above the pre-recession peak, while the median is not even close. The two indicators have completely diverged. A big part of the disconnect has to do with the ownership rates of stocks and …

The Daily Shot Brief – December 12th, 2017

Greetings,   The United States: US manufacturers are increasingly optimistic. The impending corporate tax cut is expected to give this sector a boost. And just like commercial builders, manufacturers are having a tough time hiring/retaining quality workers. High healthcare costs are also a problem.   Rates: JP Morgan says that when real fed funds rates …

The Daily Shot Brief – December 11th, 2017

Greetings,   The United States: The University of Michigan consumer sentiment was below consensus but remains elevated. Americans are extremely positive about their current situation but are less enthusiastic about the future. This chart shows the spread between the U. Michigan indices of current conditions and economic expectations.   Rates: This chart shows that the …