Tuesday, January 17, 2012

2012 Recession Likely

A recession in the US is likely according to indicators used by John Hussman of Hussmann Funds and the WLI (Weekly Leading Indicator) growth by the ECRI.

John Hussman created a chart (below) corresponding to the average of standardized values (mean zero, unit variance) of the following variables:
  • 6 month change in S&P 500
  • 6 month change in nonfarm payrolls
  • 12 month change in nonfarm payrolls
  • 6 month change in average weekly hours worked
  • ISM Purchasing Managers Index
  • ISM New Orders Index
  • OECD Leading Indicator - total world, 
  • OECD Leading Indicator - US, 
  • ECRI Weekly Leading Index growth
  • Chicago Fed National Activity Index 
  • 3 month average, credit spreads (Baa vs 10-year Treasury), 
  • Industrial commodity prices - 12 month and 6 month change
  • New building permits 6 month change.
Here's the chart between 1952 and 2011.


The level we currently get (-0.5) has always been associated with recessions, except with the false positive in 2003, right after the 2001/2002 recession. It correctly predicted or coincided with 10 recessions, never missed one and gave one incorrect signal as previously mentioned.
The WLIG currently stands at -8.4 (6 Jan 2012), a level usually associated with recession. ECRI insists however they use other leading indicator to make a recession call. That's why they did not make a recession call in 2010, but did make one for 2012.

There is now a fair amount of optimism in AAII survey (~50% bullish), although its' not extreme yet, and lagging indicators give a positive outlook for the US economy, so those recession calls still have many critics, but I believe they will eventually be proven right this year.

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