C.W. Copeland & Associates presents
Weekly Economic Update for the Week of May 31, 2010
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Quote of the week. “Fun is a good thing, but only when it spoils nothing better.” - George Santayana
Personal spending flat for April. However, wages rose 0.4% and disposable personal incomes went up 0.5% (the biggest increase in almost a year). April was the first month since September in which consumer spending didn’t increase.1,2
Home sales rise. Federal tax credits expired in April, and these numbers reflect it: the Commerce Department said new home sales were up 14.8% for the month (they were also 47.8% above April 2009 levels). The National Association of Realtors noted a 7.6% gain in existing home sales in April.3
Sentiment indexes improve. The final University of Michigan/Reuters survey for May hit 73.6, up from a 72.2 reading in late April. The Conference Board’s consumer index hit 63.3, a level unseen since September 2008.4
Durable goods orders rise 2.9%. The Commerce Department report showed transportation orders behind the April gain, which topped the 1.3% increase forecast by economists.5
Hopefully, June will be better. The poorest month for equities since November 2008 finally ended. The DJIA closed May at 10,136.63. As for the NASDAQ and S&P 500, they stood respectively at 2,257.04 and 1,089.41 as the Memorial Day weekend began (Wall Street resumes trading on Tuesday). Even after the May selloff, the Russell 2000 was +5.79% on the year through the weekend.6
% Change | Y-T-D | 1-Yr Chg | 5-Yr Avg | 10-Yr Avg |
DJIA | -2.79 | +20.62 | -0.77 | -0.37 |
NASDAQ | -0.53 | +28.84 | +1.75 | -3.48 |
S&P 500 | -2.30 | +20.13 | -1.82 | -3.06 |
Real Yield | 5/28 | 1 Yr Ago | 5 Yrs Ago | 10 Yrs Ago |
10YrTIPS | 1.32% | 1.87% | 1.67% | 4.34% |
(Source: CNBC.com, BigCharts.com, ustreas.gov, bls.gov, 5/28/10)6,7,8,9
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be
invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends.
Riddle of the week. Yesterday was Wednesday’s tomorrow. Tomorrow is Sunday’s yesterday. Given those circumstances, what day would today be?
Contact my office or see next week’s Update for the answer.
Last week’s riddle: The railings on a 60-yard-long walkway have ornamental sculptures every 12 yards on both sides, starting at the east and west ends of the walkway. How many total sculptures are there on the walkway?
Last week’s riddle answer: 12 sculptures total, as there are 6 per side if they occur every 12 yards (0-12-24-36-48-60).
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Citations.
1 - bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/pinewsrelease.htm [5/28/10]
2 - investmentadvisor.com/news/2010/5/Pages/Consumer-spending-flat-personal-income-rises-04-sentiment-inches-up.aspx [5/28/10]
3 - online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704717004575268173355581314.html [5/28/10]
4 - thestreet.com/story/10769732/1/consumer-sentiment-holds-steady.html [5/28/10]
5 - forbes.com/2010/05/26/durable-goods-manufacturing-markets-economy-transportation.html [5/26/10]
6 - cnbc.com/id/37396837 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=DJIA&close_date=5%2F28%2F09&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=COMP&close_date=5%2F28%2F09&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=SPX&close_date=5%2F28%2F09&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=DJIA&close_date=5%2F27%2F05&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=COMP&close_date=5%2F27%2F05&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=SPX&close_date=5%2F27%2F05&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=DJIA&close_date=5%2F30%2F00&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=COMP&close_date=5%2F30%2F00&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
7 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=SPX&close_date=5%2F30%2F00&x=0&y=0 [5/28/10]
8 - ustreas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/debt-management/interest-rate/real_yield.shtml [5/28/10]
8 - ustreas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/debt-management/interest-rate/real_yield_historical.shtml [5/28/10]
9 - treasurydirect.gov/instit/annceresult/press/preanre/2000/ofm11200.pdf [1/12/00]
"Your Personal CFO"
C.W. Copeland & Associates
Lifestyle Management Advisors
3401 Norman Berry Drive
Suite 253
East Point, GA 30344
404.567.3275 (direct)
404.601.9534 (fax)
www.PhDinMoney.com
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Advisory services offered through Resource Horizons Investment Advisory
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Marietta, GA 30060
Office 770 319-1970
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