The curious case of the missing US inflation

Investors and policymakers are puzzled. Inflationary pressures are tentatively hovering around the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) 2% target, following a prolonged period of economic expansion, despite the unemployment rate reaching a record low (see Fig.1).

Low Guan Yi, Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income
Eastspring Investments

Feb 2019


Such low unemployment levels have typically pushed wages higher thus driving inflation also higher.

But this does not seem to be the case today. Instead, the US real average hourly earnings growth rate is an anaemic 1.7%, which lags the economic growth rate of 3.4%2.

Fig.1: Inflation remains soft despite record low unemployment1

Fig1

So, what is the reason for this missing wage pressure?

Technological progress is one much-discussed potential factor; another is the rise of low-wage employment.

Productivity rises amid technological improvement

Some suggest that the rapid rise of online retailers, such as Amazon, has exerted a key disinflationary pressure.

Upon closer inspection, however, the impact appears negligible. The ‘Amazon effect’ only narrows the price gap between online and offline retailers3; research has shown such online competition contributed 0.02 percentage point to US inflation4.

We can safely exclude the ‘Amazon effect’ from our puzzle, it seems.

That said, it is important not to be overzealous and discard the impact of technology wholesale.

Artificial intelligence, for example, and the Internet of Things5 are at the core of the technological revolution. Moreover, automation and robotics have superseded many low-skilled, routine, and administrative jobs.

Technology, therefore, provides more of a direct boost to human productivity and cost savings.

Just look at how ride-hailing apps help match drivers and passengers within minutes, eliminating the jobs of call-centre operators. More professionals can nowadays work from home using internet connections, saving on both commuting time and office expenses.

The problem seems to be that the resulting boost to productivity has not ‘trickled down’ to wage earners.

US output per hour, for example, has increased by 44.8% over the past 20 years, far outpacing the 17.5% growth in real compensation i.e. wages, mostly. See Fig.2.

Fig.2: US output grows faster than compensation6

Fig1

Why has this happened?

One explanation is the waning power of trade unions. In 2018, just 10.5% of wage and salary workers in the US belonged to a union; almost half the rate in 1983. As the collective bargaining power declines, it is now harder for labour to push through wage claims than in the past.

But it is not the only explanation.

The rise of low-wage employment

As real wage growth has been flat-to-sluggish, it has also been difficult for seniors to not only save for retirement but also live once retired, forcing many to re-enter the workforce.

The majority of these seniors work in part-time, low-skilled jobs, mostly as personal-care and home-health assistants. There were about 2.9 million such jobs in 2016, but this number is projected to increase by around 41% by 2026, making this job category one of the fastest-growing fields in the US7.

Unfortunately, these jobs had a median earning of just US$23,100 per year, 38.7% less than the national median of US$37,690 in 20177.

Such labour demographics and dynamics, as a result, have hindered wage growth despite those deceptively low (and attractive) unemployment numbers.

Even Janet Yellen (former Fed Chair) has reportedly admitted8 that the record-low unemployment numbers are possibly ‘misleading’ given that the official unemployment definition excludes those ‘discouraged workers’ who have given up the search for work.

The overall result of these different forces can be seen in the widening difference between the jobs on offer and the number of individuals working.

The daunting truth (Fig.3) is that despite rising non-farm payrolls, the labour participation rate has fallen to, and hovered around 62.5% since 2013.

Fig.3: More individuals need more than one job to make a living in the US9

Fig1

In other words, many Americans are being forced to have more than one job to make ends meet, suggesting the upward pressure on wage growth remains minuscule.

As such, inflation expectations should remain low.

Tailwinds for income assets

This apparent lack of inflationary pressures, coupled with the weakening momentum in the US economy as well as the rising risks to the global outlook, led the Fed to signal a pause in its rate hike intentions in early 2019.

Some observers (as in mid-February), are even expecting no rate hikes in 2019 (see Fig.4).

Fig.4: Little expectation for rate cuts for 201910

Fig1

Against this backdrop, income yielding assets should come back into favour.

The 6.9% interest yield on US high yield bonds11, for example, looks appealing. Refinancing risks are also expected to edge lower alongside with the moderate interest rate outlook.

The impact of ageing demographics and technology is also evident in Asia, helping suppress inflationary pressures.

Coupled with the Fed’s dovish stance, this opens the door for Asian central banks to likewise halt, or even cut, rates.

Asian high yields, currently yielding close to 9.0% and trading with spreads of more than 300 basis points12, are thus a viable choice for income-seeking investors who have more aggressive risk tolerance (read more).

And as Asian central banks slow rate hikes, the funding costs for Asian real estate investment trusts (REITs) are less of a burden. This should, in turn, be positive for their future dividend distributions (read more).

Investors should fear the inflation bogeyman no longer. It is time to set foot on the steady path of income accumulating strategies.


Low Guan Yi

Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income

Eastspring Investments

Sources:
1Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) and US Inflation Calculator. Data as at 31 January 2019.
2Bureau of Labour Statistics, real average hourly earnings, seasonally adjusted, from January 2018 to January 2019. www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/realer_02132019.htm; and Bureau of Economic Analysis, gross domestic product, annual increase, in Q3 2018. www.bea.gov/news/2018/gross-domestic-product-3rd- quarter-2018-third-estimate-corporate-profits-3rd-quarter-2018.
3Alberto Cavallo, More amazon Effects: Online Competition and Pricing Behaviors, August 2018
4Goldman Sachs US Economics Analyst: The Amazon Effect in Perspective, 30 September 2017.
5The Internet of things (IoT) is the network of devices such as vehicles, and home appliances that contain electronics, software, actuators, and connectivity which allows these things to connect, interact and exchange data.
6Thomson Reuters Datastream, citing data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics, from December 1999 to August 2018. Labour productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index of real output by an index of hours worked by all persons, including employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers. Real compensation per hour (non-farm business sector).
7Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017 media pay. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm (visited February 18, 2019).
8www.washingtonexaminer.com/unemploymentrate-can-be-misleading-because-of-labor-force-dropouts-yellen-says.
9FRED Economic Data, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, citing data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 31 December 2008 to December 2018.
10Bloomberg, citing data from Chicago Board of Trade. Spread of 30-Day Fed Funds Futures Jan20 over 30-day Fed Funds Future Feb19. Larger (positive) the spread, more rate hikes are expected.
11Bloomberg, as at 11 February 2019. Bloomberg Barclays US Corporate High Yield (Yield-to-Worst).
12 For the 9% yield: Bloomberg, Eastspring Investments, BofAML, Citigroup, Markit iBoxx as at 31 January 2019. Asian high yields represented by BofA Merrill Lynch Asian Dollar High Yield Corp Index. For the spreads of 300 bps: iBoxx, Morgan Stanley Research.

This document is produced by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited and issued in:

Singapore by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H)

Australia (for wholesale clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore, is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence and is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under Singapore laws which differ from Australian laws

Hong Kong by Eastspring Investments (Hong Kong) Limited and has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.

Indonesia by PT Eastspring Investments Indonesia, an investment manager that is licensed, registered and supervised by the Indonesia Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Malaysia by Eastspring Investments Berhad (531241-U).

Thailand by Eastspring Asset Management (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

United States of America (for institutional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore and is registered with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission as a registered investment adviser.

European Economic Area (for professional clients only) and Switzerland (for qualified investors only) by Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A., 26, Boulevard Royal, 2449 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés (Luxembourg), Register No B 173737.

United Kingdom (for professional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A. - UK Branch, 10 Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6AF.

Chile (for institutional clients only) by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H), which is incorporated in Singapore and is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under Singapore laws which differ from Chilean laws.

The afore-mentioned entities are hereinafter collectively referred to as Eastspring Investments.

The views and opinions contained herein are those of the author, and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other Eastspring Investments’ communications. This document is solely for information purposes and does not have any regard to the specific investment objective, financial situation and/or particular needs of any specific persons who may receive this document. This document is not intended as an offer, a solicitation of offer or a recommendation, to deal in shares of securities or any financial instruments. It may not be published, circulated, reproduced or distributed without the prior written consent of Eastspring Investments. Reliance upon information in this document is at the sole discretion of the reader. Please carefully study the related information and/or consult your own professional adviser before investing.

Investment involves risks. Past performance of and the predictions, projections, or forecasts on the economy, securities markets or the economic trends of the markets are not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of Eastspring Investments or any of the funds managed by Eastspring Investments.

Information herein is believed to be reliable at time of publication. Data from third party sources may have been used in the preparation of this material and Eastspring Investments has not independently verified, validated or audited such data. Where lawfully permitted, Eastspring Investments does not warrant its completeness or accuracy and is not responsible for error of facts or opinion nor shall be liable for damages arising out of any person’s reliance upon this information. Any opinion or estimate contained in this document may subject to change without notice.

Eastspring Investments companies (excluding joint venture companies) are ultimately wholly owned/indirect subsidiaries of Prudential plc of the United Kingdom. Eastspring Investments companies (including joint venture companies) and Prudential plc are not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America or with the Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc (a company incorporated in the United Kingdom).