Macro Overview
A Congressional standoff surrounding raising the debt limit led to increased market volatility as a political debate lingered. Impasses regarding the debt ceiling have occurred numerous times since the limit was established in 1917.
Some economists believe that dissipating stimulus payments along with growing inflationary pressures may hinder economic expansion heading into 2022. Also adding to consumer tensions are tax reform measures proposed by Congress that are creating uncertainty surrounding tax and estate planning. Among the proposals are heightened capital gains taxes, reduction in estate tax exemptions, and limits on transferring assets to heirs with favorable tax treatments.
The number of known deaths from Covid-19 in the U.S. has now surpassed the number of fatalities from the 1918 flu pandemic. The CDC reported that over 675,000 people have died thus far, equaling those who died in the 1918 pandemic. Notably different is that the population of the U.S. has nearly tripled since 1918, thus having a smaller toll on the overall population of 333 million.
Economists are noting that wage gains have been trailing price gains throughout the economy, meaning that consumers are able to buy less. Rental costs, the largest expenditure for many consumers, are expected to increase as forecast by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Interest rates rose in September driven by inflationary influences and the Federal Reserve’s signal that it will start alleviating stimulus support by the end of the year. Heightened energy prices along with ongoing supply constraints are stoking inflationary concerns as consumers resume spending on products and services. Gasoline, oil, and natural gas prices rose in September as supply constraints and increased global demand added to price pressures.
Cryptocurrency has become highly disputable among various world governments. September saw two significant opposing positions for digital currency as El Salvador became the first country to adopt a cryptocurrency as its legal tender and China’s Central Bank declared all crypto-related transactions illegal, citing concerns about gambling, fraud and money laundering. (Sources: CDC, U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve)
Volatility Returns As Uncertainty Prevails – Equity Overview
Volatility returned in September to U.S. and international equities as central bank stimulus efforts are expected to start unwinding by year end.
Third quarter results for major equity indices revealed that the financial and utilities sectors led the broad markets, with the energy sector leading all sectors year to date.
Equity analysts believe that ongoing supply disruptions have worsened globally as Covid related issues continue to impact factories and ports worldwide. Freight and energy constraints continue to add costs to companies, posing a material risk to profit expectations.
Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, S&P
Rates Head Higher – Fixed Income Overview
Rates moved slightly higher in September as markets look to the Fed for indications of a taper. Yields on government, corporate and municipal bonds rose, sending bond prices lower.
The Federal Reserve announced that it will probably start tapering its bond buying strategy as soon as this November, as well as an inclination to start raising rates in 2022. Bond buying by the Fed has been a stimulus process that has helped maintain low interest rates.
FreddieMac reported that the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.01% as of September 30th, the highest weekly increase since February.
Sources: U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve, FreddieMac
Median Household Income Drops – Demographics
The median household income fell in 2020 for the first time since 2014, according to the most recent Census Bureau data released in September. Widespread stimulus payments as well as enhanced unemployment benefits were not enough to match prior year incomes in 2019. As of the end of 2020, the median household income was $67,521, a drop of 3% from 2019. Even though it doesn’t appear to be much of a consequential drop, inflation pressures are becoming more of a concern. Census Bureau data is adjusted for inflation, albeit at only 1.25%, which is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculation.
Analysts suspect that the inflation rate may actually be much higher, perhaps approaching the 50-year average of 4.1%. Because of this, some economists believe that median incomes are not keeping up with inflation and stripping many households of their purchasing power. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor)
How The Debt Ceiling Came About – Fiscal Policy
Formally known as the statutory debt limit, the United States debt ceiling or debt limit is a legislative restriction on the amount of national debt that can be issued by the Treasury. The debt limit has been raised 79 times since its creation in 1917, with 17 of these increases occurring over the past 20 years.
The United States has maintained legislative restriction on debt since 1917. In order to control the amount of total debt outstanding, Congress has placed restrictions on Federal debt issuance since the passing of the Second Liberty Bond Act of 1917, which eventually evolved into a general debt limit in 1939. The Second Liberty Bond Act of 1917 helped finance the United States’ entry into World War I, which allowed the Treasury to issue long-term Liberty Bonds.
Periodically, a political dispute arises over legislation to raise the debt ceiling. Until the debt ceiling is raised, the Treasury undertakes what is termed as “extraordinary measures”, which essentially buys more time for the ceiling to be raised.
The United States has never reached the point of default, where the Treasury is unable to pay its obligations. In 2011 the United States reached a point of near default, which in turn triggered the first downgrade of U.S. debt by credit rating agencies. Congress raised the debt limit with the Budget Control Act of 2011, which led to the fiscal cliff and set a new debt ceiling that was reached on December 31, 2012. The current debt ceiling debate in Congress is expected to lead to a debt ceiling increase sometime in the first quarter of the government’s fiscal year, which begins October 1 of each year. (Source: Congressional Research Service, U.S. Treasury)
Hybrid Auto Sales Continue To Grow – Auto Industry Overview
The adoption of hybrid and electric cars worldwide has been a trend for years, with limited options from only a few manufacturers. A recent surge of new entrants into the market along with rapidly advancing electric motor and battery technology, has provided a flurry of additional options for consumers.
Government subsidies and environmental sensitivity have also helped increase the popularity of hybrid vehicles, thus propelling sales upward. Currently, there is a $7,500 federal tax credit for the purchase of a new electric vehicle. Some Congressional leaders are proposing even larger tax credits and an extension of those credits through 2031.
There are currently over 253 million cars and 
trucks on U.S. highways, with roughly 550,000 of them electric. Electric vehicles have also grown in popularity in other countries as new models and manufacturers have evolved. China, Japan, the Netherlands and Norway are among the countries with the largest amount of electric vehicles. Hybrid auto sales
have been outpacing electric auto sales as numerous manufacturers and brands have introduced new models prompting competition in the industry. Hybrid auto sales grew to over 454,000 vehicles in 2020, a growing trend from only 9,350 vehicles in 2000, as tracked by the Department of Transportation. (Sources: InsideEVs, Dept. of Transportation)
Americans Tapping Savings – Consumer Behavior
As store and restaurant closures prompted consumers nationwide to stay home last year during the height of the pandemic, consumers spent less, and saved more. In addition, massive stimulus efforts by the government placed funds in millions of consumer savings accounts last year, helping to shore up the savings rate.
The most recent savings rate data made available reveals that consumers are now saving less, perhaps tapping their savings accounts as prices have increased and stimulus payments have vanished. The personal savings rate as of October 1, 2021 stood at 9.4%, down from 33.8% in April 2020.
Dwindling consumer confidence along with uncertainty surrounding the 
job market, shifted many from a spending mode to a saving mode in 2020. The average savings rate for the past 60 years has been 8.9%. The savings rate jumped from 8.4% in February 2020 to 33.8% in April 2020 as the pandemic took hold of the U.S. economy.
Economists view the decrease in savings part of a sustained economic expansion. Since nearly 70% of Gross Domestic Production (GDP) is represented by consumer expenditures, higher savings tend to take away from spending throughout the economy. Consumer confidence is also a factor as a lack of confidence tends to increase savings while minimizing spending. (Source: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/A072RC1Q156SBEA)
How To Check On Your Social Security Benefits Before Retiring – Retirement Planning
As retirement approaches, estimating income for the retirement years is critical in planning for living and leisure expenses. It is suggested to request an updated Social Security Statement which estimates the projected benefit payments at different ages. As more people have been working longer than expected before retiring, the additional income can increase Social Security benefits.
The earliest one can take Social Security is age 62, which pays a lower benefit than waiting until full retirement age of 66 for those born between 1943 and 1954. Full retirement age increases gradually for those born between 1955 and 1960 until reaching age 67. For anyone born 1960 or thereafter, full retirement age is 67.
In order to request your estimated benefit payments, the Social Security website provides friendly calculations and estimates based on your most current tax year filing. Simply visit https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/retire-calc.html
Source: www.ssa.gov
