In today’s Steady Investor, we dive into current news and key factors that we believe are currently impacting the market, such as:
The Hot Jobs’ Market is Desperate for Takers – The number of job openings in the United States hit a record 9.3 million in April, according to the Labor Department. The demand for workers underscores the race for businesses to come fully back online as the economy heats up. The number of job openings nearly matches the 9.8 million Americans who remain unemployed and looking for work, signaling we could see the unemployment rate come down further in the coming months. Interestingly enough, however, the rate at which workers quit their jobs – which is a sign of confidence in the jobs market – also hit a record in April. Many workers likely believe they can find a better job at a higher wage, in such a competitive environment for labor. Most job openings currently are in areas of the economy like food service, hospitality, tourism, and warehousing, where wages are generally low but could see some upward pressure. In the meantime, teenagers have been increasingly sweeping up many of the low-wage jobs. The unemployment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds fell to 9.6%, which is its lowest level since 1953. The share of teenagers who work also touched a decade-plus high, at 33.2%.1
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Investing is already an emotional process, especially when volatility comes into play. A bull market can be as exhilarating as a bear market is terrifying (ask any investor who went through 2008). But we believe that avoiding emotional reactions can result in achieving your financial goals without compromising your long-term returns.
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Wages are on the Rise – Many argue that the supply/demand imbalance in the labor market is due to employers paying too-low wages. Many businesses are responding in kind: the average hourly earnings rose 0.5% following a 0.7% increase in April, a reasonably robust pace for month-on-month readings. The sectors with the biggest shortages in workers are seeing the most wage pressures, which makes economic sense. In leisure and hospitality, for example, hourly earnings rose 1.3% in May from April, and are 7% higher than they were in February 2020, when the pandemic hit. At restaurants and bars, hourly pay for non-manager employees is up 6.3% from February 2020. If companies hope to fill some of the record 9.3 million job openings, they may need to follow suit.3
Keystone XL Pipeline Project Goes Offline – The long saga of the Keystone XL pipeline project may officially be winding down. This week, the developer of the pipeline, Canada’s TC Energy Corp., said they are scrapping the project. The company gave little information about its full rationale for abandoning the project, but its failure to secure a critical construction permit was likely part of its last straw. The company said it would be shifting its focus to building businesses in shipping and storing natural gas, liquid fuels, and power to align itself with the U.S.’s shifting energy market.4
China is Experiencing Inflation, Too – We have written many times about inflationary pressures in the U.S., but the world’s second-largest economy is feeling it too. In May, China’s factory-gate prices rose by the most in 13 years, and its producer-price index also jumped 9% from a year earlier. China says that rising price pressures in crude oil, iron ore, and metals are fueling the pressure, and businesses around the world are growing concerned that rising input costs could trickle through the supply chain. China’s government has been instituting guardrails to try and contain the issue, by issuing rules against commodity/input hoarding and attempting to set price controls. The key issue to monitor going forward is if these price pressures persist throughout the year, or if they are just short-term spikes corresponding to the full economic reopening in the U.S.5
It is impossible to control the highs and lows of the market. But there are ways you can manage the highs and lows of your own emotions and stay focused on your long-term goals. In our view, staying invested is key, especially when times get tough! If you have $500,000 or more to invest, get our free guide, How to Avoid Emotional Investing.6 It provides our advice, based on decades of experience, to help you navigate through turbulent times. Click on the link below to get your copy today.
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