QQQ - Weekly Indicators: Short Leading Indicators Continue To Improve
2024-03-23 08:00:00 ET
Summary
- Long leading indicators show improvement, with bond yields and mortgage rates becoming neutral.
- Short leading indicators are gradually turning more positive, with stock prices soaring and real consumer spending holding up.
- Coincident indicators are mixed, with manufacturing and shipping being the primary negatives.
Purpose
I look at the high frequency weekly indicators because while they can be very noisy, they provide a good nowcast of the economy, and will telegraph the maintenance or change in the economy well before monthly or quarterly data is available. They are also an excellent way to "mark your beliefs to market." In general, I go in order of long leading indicators, then short leading indicators, then coincident indicators.
A Note on Methodology
Data is presented in a "just the facts, ma'am" format with a minimum of commentary so that bias is minimized.
Where relevant, I include 12-month highs and lows in the data in parentheses to the right. All data taken from St. Louis FRED unless otherwise linked....
Weekly Indicators: Short Leading Indicators Continue To Improve