January 17, 2011 Weekly Market Commentary

CONSUMER & PRODUCER PRICES RISE
The U.S. inflation rate hit an 18-month peak in December: the federal government’s Consumer Price Index advanced 0.5%. Pump prices were a big factor in that gain: gasoline grew 8.5% more expensive last month. However, core CPI (minus food and energy prices) only rose 0.1% for the month, and consumers experienced just 1.5% inflation across 2010. The Producer Price Index went 1.1% higher in December, and energy costs were responsible for most of the gain. Core PPI (again, minus food and energy prices) was just +0.2% for December. Wholesale prices rose 4.0% in 2010.1,2,3

ENCOURAGING RETAIL SALES FIGURES RELEASED
The Commerce Department announced a 0.6% gain in retail sales for December. While this was smaller than the 0.8% advance forecast by economists polled by MarketWatch, the increase wrapped up a positive year for the indicator. Retail sales have now improved for sixth months in a row, and 2010 was the best year for the category since 1999.4

GOLD SLIDES, BUT OIL RECOVERS
Gold is certainly off to a rocky start in 2011: as of Friday’s COMEX close, it was down 4.27% YTD to $1360.40 per ounce following news that China had tightened bank reserves. Oil, on the other hand, gained 3.99% last week to settle Friday at $91.54 a barrel on the NYMEX with prices up +0.18% YTD.5

NEWEST UNIV. OF MICHIGAN POLL UNDERWHELMS
The initial Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey for January showed a little slip in consumer sentiment. It came in at 72.7, down from 74.4 at the end of 2010. Economists polled by Bloomberg News had reached a consensus forecast of 75.5.6

TWO WINNING WEEKS IN A ROW TO START 2011
A strong Friday contributed to nice weekly advances for the three major U.S. indices. The weekly numbers: DJIA, +0.96% to 11,787.38; NASDAQ, +1.93% to 2755.30; S&P 500, +1.71% to 1293.24. At Friday’s close, the S&P was at its highest level since August 28, 2008.7

THIS WEEK: Stock markets are closed Monday for the national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Looking at the notable economic releases next week, we get data on December housing starts and building permits on Wednesday, and a look at December existing home sales, the latest index of leading indicators from the Conference Board and the latest initial and continuing claims reports on Thursday.

WEEKLY QUOTE
“Knowledge is more than equivalent to force.”
– Samuel Johnson

WEEKLY TIP
Do you have credit cards? Did you know you can call your credit card company and request a lower interest rate? In fact, a good rule of thumb is to do this once every six months. They don't grant every request, but you won't know if you don't ask.

Best Regards,

Kevin Kroskey



Citations.
1- bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm [1/14/11]
2 - theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/01/consumer-price-inflation-jumps-05-in-december/69567/ [1/14/11]
3 - npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/01/13/132886429/jobless-claims-jump-up-energy-pushed-wholesale-prices-higher [1/13/11]
4 - marketwatch.com/story/us-retail-sales-climb-06-in-december-2011-01-14 [1/14/11]
5 - blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2011/01/14/data-points-energy-metals-440/ [1/14/11]
6 - bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-14/u-s-consumer-confidence-unexpectedly-declines-on-jobless-rate-fuel-costs.html [1/14/11]
7 - cnbc.com/id/41080629 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=DJIA&close_date=1%2F14%2F10&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=COMP&close_date=1%2F14%2F10&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=SPX&close_date=1%2F14%2F10&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=DJIA&close_date=1%2F13%2F06&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=COMP&close_date=1%2F13%2F06&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=SPX&close_date=1%2F13%2F06&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=DJIA&close_date=1%2F12%2F01&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=COMP&close_date=1%2F12%2F01&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
8 - bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?detect=1&symbol=SPX&close_date=1%2F7%12F01&x=0&y=0 [1/14/11]
9 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield [1/14/11]
9 - treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyieldAll [1/14/11]
10 - treasurydirect.gov/instit/annceresult/press/preanre/2001/ofm11001.pdf [1/10/01]


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