Review the latest Weekly Headings by CIO Larry Adam.
Key Takeaways
- Production of containers should resolve shipping costs
- Commodity prices are receding from recent peaks
- Understanding the cyclical element of inflation
It was just this time last year that shutdowns, cancellations and fears of traveling dominated the headlines and developing a widely available, effective vaccine in record time seemed a long shot at best. Fast forward twelve months, and the US economy is singing a vastly different tune, with optimistic headlines signaling a surprising return to normalcy pervading the airwaves. This robust rebound has rightfully come with some pricing pressures that have struck a chord with investors fearing that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will taper asset purchases ahead of schedule. We do not want to sound like a broken record, but with the inflation fear song on repeat, it is important to highlight some of the dynamics that over time will ease pricing pressures. In short, inflation pressures are likely to be transitory (as the Fed expects), peaking during the third quarter before subsiding by the end of the year.
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- Crank Up The Volume On Container Production | The simultaneous emergence of consumers from spending hibernation (some with extra cash in their pockets thanks to Congress’ stimulus efforts) and amplified demand for goods has led shipping costs to increase over the last year. In some cases, such as the route from China to Los Angeles, the price has nearly tripled ($4.4 Thousand/FEU versus $1.6 in January 2020). The good news is that shipping companies are taking action. During the final quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of this year, they increased their orders for shipping containers (to fit more on existing ships)—the highest level since at least 1Q15—and placed a record amount of orders for new container ships to be built. While it will admittedly take some time for adjustments to impact operations, the combination of these efforts, in addition to ports becoming more staffed as vaccines are disseminated, should drive down transportation costs in the future.
- Funding Efforts Should Strike The Right Note For Chip Supply | The limited number of semiconductor chips available for a number of in-demand industries (e.g., consumer electronics, car manufacturing) has been a growing concern for months. However, a quick glance through the headlines demonstrates that companies and politicians will not stand idly by as the delay between ordering and receiving semiconductor chips is at a record high 17 weeks. Within the US, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has proposed $52 billion in funding to boost semiconductor production and research, which could lead to as many as ten new facilities—a critical step for the US since our market share of semiconductor production has decreased to 12% from 37% in 1990. But the US is not alone in its proposed efforts, in fact, additional funding from South Korea, Taiwan, China, and the EU should combine for well over half a trillion dollars, all of which should alleviate future availability concerns.
