ECB: Macro Since Last ECB - Labour: Wages Still Expected To Cool

Jul-21 17:28
  • The unemployment rate was a tenth higher than expected in May at 6.3% as it increased off historical lows of 6.2% in April. It doesn’t change the story, having averaged 6.3% since mid-2024.
  • It’s a release that hasn’t been commanding much market attention but President Lagarde has regularly cited this relative resilience of the labour market.
  • The more up to date German unemployment rate series from the Bundesbank meanwhile pointed to some further stabilization in June, with a fourth month at 6.3% having ended 2024 at 6.1%, 2023 at 5.8% and 2022 at 5.5%. 

 

  • On the wage side, there were slight upward revisions to the ECB's forward looking wage tracker compared to the April vintage, but the broader theme of softening compensation pressures remains intact. The tracker excluding one-off payments is seen at 3.082% in 4Q25 (vs 3.024% in the April iteration).
  • On the envisaged moderation from 4.5% in 1Q25, the ECB writes: "The downward trend of the forward-looking wage tracker for the remainder of 2025 partly reflects the mechanical impact of large one-off payments (that were paid in 2024 but drop out in 2025) and the front-loaded nature of wage increases in some sectors in 2024."
  • Recall that the ECB projects compensation per employee growth at 2.8% by the last quarter of this year, down from 3.8% in Q1.
  • More recently, the Indeed wage tracker for May eased to 2.5% Y/Y (vs 3.2% prior) for the lowest rate since late 2021. The smoother three-month average rate meanwhile was steady at 3.0% Y/Y, revealing a broadly consistent message to that of the ECB’s forward-looking tracker. 
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Historical bullets

USDCAD TECHS: Corrective Cycle

Jun-20 20:00
  • RES 4: 1.4111 High Apr 4
  • RES 3: 1.4016 High May 12 and 13 and a key resistance 
  • RES 2: 1.3832/1.3920 50-day EMA / High May 21 
  • RES 1: 1.3747 High Jun 19
  • PRICE: 1.3733 @ 16:23 BST Jun 20
  • SUP 1: 1.3540/3521 Low Jun 16 / 1.0% 10-dma envelope
  • SUP 2: 1.3503 1.618 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing
  • SUP 3: 1.3473 Low Oct 2 2024
  • SUP 4: 1.3410 1.764 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing

The trend needle in USDCAD points south and this week’s recovery is considered corrective. Resistance at the 20-day EMA, at 1.3710, has been pierced. A continuation higher would signal scope for a stronger retracement and expose pivot resistance at the 50-day EMA, at 1.3832. For bears, a  reversal lower and a resumption of the downtrend would pave the way for an extension towards 1.3521, envelope-based support. 

LOOK AHEAD: Next Week's Key US Data Releases

Jun-20 20:00

US data is headlined by Thursday’s Q1 GDP revisions and Friday’s PCE report for May although there are plenty of other releases that will be watched with interest throughout the week. 

  • Q1 GDP data will be “stale”, especially being a third release, but it will nevertheless help the Fed assess whether its previous view on the economy is playing out. Recall that Powell at the May FOMC press conference said he expected consumption and inventories to have increased more strongly than first reported in the flash release. Last month’s second release showed that only partly played out, with inventories revised even higher but consumption revised down from 1.8% to 1.2%. Nevertheless, Powell at Wednesday’s June FOMC press conference still described the downward revised 2.5% for PDFP as “solid”.
  • The May PCE report should be more impactful for clues on latest consumer momentum amidst strong income growth. Retail sales saw the largest monthly drop since March 2023 although the closely-watched control group was stronger than expected. As for inflation metrics, core PCE is seen around 0.15% M/M in May judging by unrounded estimates after the usual CPI, PPI and import price inputs, after 0.12% M/M in April.  
  • As for the other releases to watch, Monday’s preliminary June PMIs will give timely updates on wider activity after Empire and Philly Fed manufacturing surveys remained in contractionary territory. We also expect greater than usual focus on housing data (existing home sales Mon, new home sales Wed) after what have been some troubling releases across both construction and sentiment. Tuesday then sees the Conference Board consumer survey for an alternative look at the improvement since the de-escalation in trade policy before Wednesday’s advance trade data for the latest post tariff front-running update. 

US TSYS: Tsys Narrow/Higher Range, Trump Been "Speaking to Iran"

Jun-20 19:53
  • Treasuries look to finish higher Friday, top half of narrow range. Early risk-on tone followed unscheduled comments from Fed Governor Waller on the possibility of a rate cut in July and headlines that Iran was ready to discuss limitations on uranium enrichment plans.
  • No market reaction to late Pres Trump comments to reporters & social media posts: "WILL MAKE TRADE DEAL WITH INDIA, PAKISTAN," "BEEN SPEAKING TO IRAN," "IRAN WANTS TO SPEAK TO US, NOT EUROPE" - Bbg posts. Trump adds Europe is not going to help with Iran, nor will China; Trump "might" support Israel/Iran ceasefire
  • The price details of the Philly Fed manufacturing survey for June showed a pullback from elevated rates for both prices paid and prices received in the current period. Six-month ahead expectations for prices paid pushed higher again though, and at 68.9 is getting closer to the high of 77.8 from Jan 2022, although prices received isn’t quite as relatively elevated.
  • Tsy Sep'25 10Y futures trades +5 at 110-30.5 vs. 111-03 high, remains below key resistance and its recent high of 111-14+, a Fibonacci retracement and the Jun 5 high. Clearance of this hurdle would be bullish and highlight a stronger reversal. This would open 111-30, a Fibonacci retracement.
  • Curves steeper, 2s10s +2.611 at 47.137, 5s30s +3.530 at 93.143. 10Y yield at 4.3791% vs. 4.3593% low. Projected rate cut pricing back to 50bp by December.
  • Cross asset: Stocks mixed (DJIA +29.34 at 42,202.0, SPX eminis -20.75 at 6013.5), Gold mildly lower at 3365.05, Bbg US$ index little firmer at 1210.80 +1.10.