US OUTLOOK/OPINION: Weekly ADP Watched After Renewed Rolling Over

Nov-18 11:11

The weekly ADP report offers another timely update on labor conditions, watched to see if last week’s decline is revised and for latest momentum heading into November.

  • The weekly ADP report will be released today at 0815ET, covering the four weeks up to Nov 1.
  • Last week’s release was the first one when we knew it would be published and saw some dissemination issues.
  • It was first published here: https://www.adpresearch.com/the-ner-pulse/ although ADP said beforehand that it would be published here: https://www.adpresearch.com/category/mainstreet-macro/. We’ll monitor both but expect a smoother release this week.
  • Last week’s release suggested a return of private sector job losses in data up to Oct 25 with a four-week average decline of -11.25k jobs on a week-on-week basis. On its own it points to renewed sizeable deterioration in net job creation after some stabilization in the monthly October report with its +42k (for its reference week including the 12th of the month).
  • ADP has warned that these data are preliminary and can be revised although last week’s release made it difficult to accurately assess these revisions in a timely manner.  
  • Fed Governor Waller (voter, dove), who is one of the leading voices calling for further cuts including at next month’s meeting, has referenced ADP data for some time. That included in yesterday’s speech (link): “While the ADP data are quite volatile and have some other shortcomings that make them less reliable than government statistics, I do think these data are telling us something. And in September and October, ADP reported that businesses created a net total of only 6,500 jobs a month. And the latest weekly data are even weaker.”
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LOOK AHEAD: US Week Ahead Headlined By Delayed CPI Report On Friday

Oct-17 20:51
  • The September US CPI report will be released on Friday, delayed amidst the government shutdown but with the BLS making a special exception on social security payment considerations.
  • Bloomberg consensus looks for headline CPI inflation at a rounded 0.4% M/M after 0.38% back in August and for Y/Y inflation to firm two tenths to 3.1% for what would be its highest since May 2024.
  • Core inflation is seen at a rounded 0.3% M/M after 0.35% in August (exceeding the median unrounded estimate of 0.31%) and 0.32% in July. It’s expected to see core CPI inflation hold at 3.1% Y/Y having in August increased to its highest since February.
  • Core details should see focus on both goods and services angles: underlying goods inflation has clearly firmed in recent months on tariff pressures although the median increase has currently seen a peak back in June, whilst services will be watched for any spillover after some strong recent non-housing readings.
  • The report will come within the FOMC blackout period ahead of the Oct 28-29 decision, with a 25bp cut fully priced and likely needing a large surprise to alter this.
  • As for broader inflation details, Fed Chair Powell this week confusingly suggested that we will have the September PPI report but the BLS had previously said “No other releases will be rescheduled or produced until the resumption of regular government services”.

US DATA: Latest Jobless Claims Estimates During The Shutdown

Oct-17 20:30

As noted earlier, MNI estimates initial jobless claims at a seasonally adjusted 218k in the week to Oct 11 and continuing claims at a seasonally adjusted 1929k in the week to Oct 4. 

  • To give a better idea of sensitivity around these estimates, which rely on estimates for some missing states, we note the below analyst estimates:
  • Goldman Sachs have a central estimate of 217k for initial claims in a range of 211-225k, whilst they see continuing claims at 1917k in a range of 1885-1930k.  
  • JPMorgan meanwhile also see 217k for initial claims whilst they see continuing claims as having held constant at 1927k. 

NATGAS: Venture Global in Talks with Ukraine for more LNG Deliveries, Reuters

Oct-17 20:28

Ukraine is seeking more cargoes from Venture’s Plaquemines facility as the embattled nation approaches the winter heating season, according to Reuters sources

  • Venture is in talks with Ukraine’s DTEK to procure more LNG cargoes after a year of gas infrastructure attacks by the Russians.
  • Venture Global CEO Michael Sabel met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday October 16.
  • DTEK signed an agreement in 2024 for an undisclosed amount of LNG from the facility, as well as 2 mtpa from Calcasieu Pass Phase 2 currently under construction.
  • Plaquemines currently has spare capacity to deliver more cargoes to Ukraine on the spot market, per Reuters.
  • Plaquemines now sends out the second highest LNG volume in the US, with feedgas demand averaging 3.45 bcf/d according to MNI figures.