It seems there is a 'triple whammy' going on in some...

It seems there is a 'triple whammy' going on in some of the housing bubble states. Let's focus on California as a typical example. Housing is slumping, foreclosures are soaring, and consumer confidence in the economy is sinking fast. BEA 4th Quarter GDP 1st Estimate 0.7% Q&A: Why Did GDPNow Rise After Durable Goods? When are Construction Revisions Coming? It seems there is a 'triple whammy' going on in some of the housing bubble states. Let's focus on California as a typical example. Housing is slumping, foreclosures are soaring, and Californians' consumer confidence in the economy took a dive in the second quarter of 2007, plunging into the pool of pessimism by 19 index points. Economist Esmael Adibi called the drop 'astonishing' - the steepest he's seen since 2002 when Chapman University's Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research of Orange County began sending surveys to California residents. 'There could be even more of a slump in the next quarter,' Adibi said, as the survey of California residents reflects diminished enthusiasm on the part of consumers in the state to buy big-ticket items over the next six months. The 19-point drop, from 101.9 down to 82.8, is considered significant because the consumer confidence index hasn't dropped this sharply since 2002 when the state budget was in flux. And that has people trying to hold onto more of the money they have - uncertain what tomorrow may bring. I find the above interesting (with thanks to 'Linda' for sending me the article) even as I have written in the past that I see little correlation between what consumers are saying and what they are actually doing or for that matter how the market is responding. for an explanation. That link shows that the stock market and consumer sentiment are questionable (at best) leading indicators. Nonetheless let's take a look at a chart of California sentiment. to ever increasing bubble blowing by the Fed... businesses then consumers then businesses have been temporarily bailed out by inflationary policies. The key word in that last sentence is The game will be over when consumers are more willing to pay off (or default on) existing debt as opposed to taking on additional debt. of consumers is changing slowly but surely. That is crucial given that consumer spending constitutes approximately 70% of the economy. Although it is not possible to say when this will matter change in consumer psychology and time preference that affects the market, rather than a prolonged change in the market that affects consumer psychology and time preference A wise trader once told me crashes don’t come from too much bullishness, they come from too much complacency. Recently I read that after the sharp three-day, 50 point S&P sell-off into June 7th (during which there was an atrocious advance/decline figure of 1 to 3.1), that a sentiment survey called “The Daily Sentiment Indicator” had reported that 88% of traders were still bullish. I am told by those in the know that in twenty-five years that no such reading had ever before occurred. In other words, prior declines of such amplitude drummed up some fear. Not this time around. ... I am told the recent four-week 60 basis point rise in ten year yields is equivalent to a one-thousand point decline in the DJIA. I know the litany – a bull market climbs a wall of worry. The market discounts – it knows all of the above and still in its omnipotent wisdom chooses to go higher, etc, etc. So, the level of bullishness even in the face of ugly internals is not surprising. How can it be that traders continue to wrap themselves in robes of Teflon momentum shrugging off all the slings and arrows in their way? Simple. They can because it has paid to do so. It has paid to ignore any and all concerns. But, walls of worry don’t grow to the sky. Brick by brick the bad habits that pass for reasonable risk taking get mortared at the clay feet of Emperor Complacency’s riskless robes. Floridians were camping out overnight in lines to buy Florida condos. Prices were soaring. Did prices start falling or did the pool of fools willing to buy Florida condos at increasingly absurd prices dry up first? Will stock prices drop first or will the pool of fools willing to finance increasingly absurd leveraged buyout deals and debt financed stock buybacks dry up first? I suggest history is about to repeat. The stock market may be climbing and the unemployment remains relatively low, but 7 in 10 Americans believe the economy is getting worse -- the most negative reading in nearly six years. Only one in three Americans rate the economy today as either excellent or good, while the percentage saying the economy is getting better fell from 28% to 23% in one month. Gallup adds: 'For the first time this year, a majority of Americans are negative about the employment market, saying it is a bad time to find a quality job.' The content on this site is provided as general information only and should not be taken as investment advice. All site content, including advertisements, shall not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any security or financial instrument, or to participate in any particular trading or investment strategy. The ideas expressed on this site are solely the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions of sponsors or firms affiliated with the author(s). The author may or may not have a position in any company or advertiser referenced above. 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