Main Macro Events This Week
• United States: There are several crucial economic reports this week, including nonfarm payrolls, vehicle sales, ISMs, and trade. The October employment report due out on Friday will be the week’s main event. The unemployment rate is forecast dipping to 5.0% from 5.1% previously, another multi-decade low. Also of importance is October ISM manufacturing figures on Monday and the services data on Wednesday. The manufacturing index is estimated edging up to 50.5 from 50.2 in September, though that’s just barely in expansionary territory. The non-manufacturing index is expected to rise to 57.0 from 56.9 as solid growth is seen accelerating a bit. Vehicle sales on Tuesday are expected to inch lower, however, after strong sales through the summer. Trade figures for September on Wednesday should show sharp narrowing in the deficit to a -$41.5 bln gap, from -$48.3 bln in August, given the drop in the goods deficit posted last week. Q3 productivity on Thursday is seen at unchanged for the preliminary report, from the 3.3% Q2 pace. Unit labor costs should rebound to a 2.5% rate in Q3, versus Q2′s -1.4%. Other data include October ADP private payrolls on Wednesday, construction spending for September also on Monday, September factory orders on Tuesday, and September consumer credit to be released on Friday.
• Canada: Key reports this week from Canada, with September trade and October employment on the schedule. The September trade balance on Wednesday is expected to narrow to -C$1.9 bln in from the -C$2.5 bln shortfall in August. Employment on Friday is expected to improve 10.0k in October after the 12.1k gain in September. The unemployment rate is seen at 7.1% in October, matching the 7.1% rate seen in September. The Ivey PMI on Thursday is projected to improve to 55.0 in October from the seasonally adjusted 53.7 in September. Building permits on Friday are anticipated to grow 1.0% in September after the 3.7% drop in August. The RBC manufacturing PMI for October is due Monday. Results in line with analyst estimates, especially on trade and employment, would be supportive of the Bank of Canada’s constructive view on the growth and inflation outlook as detailed in the October Monetary Policy Report.
• Japan: The October Markit/JMMA PMI on Monday is expected to slip to 51.0 from 51.2. Auto sales are also on tap. The markets are closed Tuesday for the Culture Day holiday. The calendar does not pick up again until late in the week with the BoJ minutes to the October 6, 7 meeting on Thursday. Preliminary September leading and coincident indices on Friday should show the former down 1.3% m/m from the prior -1.5% reading, while the latter is expected to come in at -0.7% m/m from -0.9% in August. In addition, eyes will be peeled for news on a rumored Japanese government special stimulus budget, which made the rounds last Friday following the BoJ’s inaction on the QE front.
• China: The Caixin/Markit series released today improved slightly to 48.3 from 47.2. October services PMI out on Wednesday is likely to improve to 50.7 from 50.5.
• Australia: The calendar for Australia features the RBA on Tuesday, which is expected to maintain the current 2.00% policy setting, although the slowing in core CPI during Q3 revealed last week opened the door to a possible rate cut. As for economic data, the trade deficit on Wednesday is expected to narrow to -A$3.0 bln in September from -A$3.1 bln in August. Retail sales on Wednesday are seen rising 0.3% in September after the 0.4% gain in August. Building approvals on Monday expanded 2.2% in September after the 6.9% drop in August. The RBA’s quarterly Statement on Monetary Policy due out on Friday will update the bank’s growth and inflation projections.
• New Zealand: The calendar features the Q3 employment report on Wednesday. It’s expected for HLFS employment to rise 0.5% in Q3 (q/q, sa) after the 0.3% gain in Q2. The unemployment rate is seen rising to 6.0% in Q3 from 5.9% in Q2.
• Europe: This week’s reports are unlikely to change the macro outlook fundamentally for the Eurozone . The services index is out on Wednesday. Economic activity continues to expand, and on the whole, confidence readings have surprised on the upside in October, which shows the recovery remains on track. German manufacturing orders on Thursday are also expected to have rebounded in September, after falling sharply in August. German industrial production on tab for Friday is seen up 0.4% m/m , after falling 1.2% m/m in August — the September drop in orders likely will prevent a more pronounced rebound. Eurozone retail sales are also due out on Thursday.
• UK: October editions of PMI survey data, along with September production numbers are on tap. There also is the November BoE Monetary Policy Committee meeting (announcing Thursday). An expected uptick in the services index should help stabilize the composite reading. Its expected that the services PMI released on Wednesday to rebound from September’s 29-month low at 53.3, anticipating a 54.4 outcome. The manufacturing PMI today is expected at 51.3 after 51.5 in the previous month. Production data is expected to show a -0.1% m/m dip in the industrial output figure, while the narrower manufacturing number is expected at +0.6% m/m.