Stocks and gold are rallying on the heels of the Fed hiking interest rates but look at these two stunning charts.

Powell’s “Whatever It Takes” Moment
July 27 (King World News) – Peter Boockvar:  If inflation was not at 9% currently the Federal Reserve would be cutting interest rates today in order to cushion the economic slowdown that is now upon us. … Powell will make clear in today’s press conference that he’s having his own ‘whatever it takes’ moment with regards to inflation, an economic recession notwithstanding and he’s still walking around with an inflation hammer. He’s not going to reflect weak knees just yet.

Now with respect to this whole debate on whether tomorrow’s GDP will mark a recession or not, it’s all semantics. Growth will have contracted in the first half of 2022 and is slowing further in Q3. To highlight the carryover of economic weakness from Q2 into Q3, here is what home builder Taylor Morrison said today in their earnings release:

“The rapid deterioration in affordability and consumer confidence cooled homebuying demand as shoppers faced significant uncertainty, related as much to the sheer speed of change to the shock of higher costs. These headwinds became most pronounced in the latter weeks of the quarter and have continued thus far in July. The impact has been felt across our wide range of price points, geographies and consumer groups, albeit to varying degrees.” The bold is mine.

Will three quarters in a row of contracting GDP finally convince those who think a recession is not here that it is? Now let’s just say in response to continued weakness in the economic data in the coming months leads the Fed to end its rate hiking cycle in September. Great news but what are they going to do with their balance sheet that is ramping up in September to its max monthly contraction rate of $95b? Oh the monetary quandary that they are in.

For those who think inflationary pressures are just going to collapse in the midst of an economic downturn, Sherwin Williams said this in today’s earnings press release:

“We are responding aggressively to inflationary pressures by implementing a 10% price increase in the Americas Group effective September 6th, with significant additional pricing actions being taken in our other two operating segments.”

This is at the same time they are cutting its earnings guidance. 

Keeping the pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia to continue on with its rate hiking, but breathing a sigh of relief, CPI in Q2 was up 6.1% after rising by 5.1% in Q1. The trimmed mean y/o/y increase was 4.9%. The headline print was 2 tenths below expectations and the trimmed mean print was 2 tenths more but markets today are focused on the latter. The 2 yr yield fell 10 bps overnight and inflation breakevens are falling but the Aussie$ is higher as are most currencies against the US dollar today. The RBA currently has rates at 1.35%.

What A Collapse
German and French consumer confidence both fell again m/o/m. The German index fell to a fresh record low dating back to 1991.

German And French Consumer Confidence
Collapses To New Record Low!

GFK said:

“In addition to concerns about disrupted supply chains, the war in Ukraine and soaring energy and food prices, there are now worries about sufficient gas supplies for businesses and households next winter. This is currently causing consumer sentiment to hit rock bottom. Especially as a tight supply of natural gas is likely to add to the pressure on energy prices and thus inflation.”

European markets are mixed with stocks rallying, bonds selling off and the euro bouncing.

Real Estate
The average 30 yr mortgage rate was 5.74% for the week ended July 22nd vs 5.82% in the week before but mortgage apps fell again. Purchases were lower by .8% w/o/w and 18.3% y/o/y and this component is at the lowest since April 2020. Refi’s declined by 3.7% w/o/w and are 83% below its level seen one year ago.

Pending home sales in June plunged by 8.6% m/o/m, well worse than the estimate of down 1%. The index at 91 is the lowest since April 2020. A 40% two year increase in home prices and higher mortgage rates is the easy explanation.

Pending Home Sales Collapse Continues
To Lowest Level Since April 2020

The NAR said

“Nearly a quarter of buyers who purchased a home three years ago would be unable to do so now because they no longer earn the qualifying income to buy a median priced home today.”

As we await the Fed today, keep in mind that into March 2022 they were still buying MBS.

ALSO RELEASED: JP Morgan Traders Rig The Gold Market While Gold Derivatives Explode CLICK HERE.
ALSO RELEASED: Greyerz Warns U.S. Has A Huge Problem, Plus A Stunning Big Picture Look At Silver CLICK HERE.
ALSO RELEASED: CONTRARIAN ALERT: Traders Bet Gold And Miners Will Continue Historic Plunge CLICK HERE.
ALSO RELEASED: Putin Has Russia Booming But The West Is In Serious Trouble And China Is Doing A Major Pivot CLICK HERE.
ALSO RELEASED: Central Planners Can’t Hold Down The Price Of Gold Much Longer CLICK HERE.
ALSO RELEASED: Bullion Banks Massive Short Covering In Gold & Silver Markets CLICK HERE.

***To listen to Gerald Celente discuss why the price of gold today should be $2,500 and silver $70-$100 as well as what surprises to expect in the back half of this year CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE BELOW.

© 2022 by King World News®. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.  However, linking directly to the articles is permitted and encouraged.