JUNE 2009 Modest Growth, Higher Unemployment Predicted For Second Half of 2009
JUNE 2009 Modest Growth, Higher Unemployment Predicted For Second Half of 2009
JUNE 2009
Projections for the unemployment rate have been revised upward throughout 2009 and are expected to remain high into
the middle of 2010. The forecasters predict that the unemployment rate will be 9.3 percent in June 2009 and will rise to
9.9 percent in December 2009. The unemployment rate in the middle of 2010 is expected to be 9.8 percent. On an annual
average basis, the unemployment rate is expected to be 9.1 percent in 2009 and 9.7 percent in 2010.
Growth Rate of
Real GDP (%) Unemployment Rate (%)
Previous New Previous New
Half-year data:
2008 Q4 to 2009 Q2 -0.9 -3.9 June 2009 7.6 9.3
2009 Q2 to 2009 Q4 1.8 1.1 December 2009 7.8 9.9
2009 Q4 to 2010 Q2 N.A. 2.6 June 2010 N.A. 9.8
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Slight Change in the Long-Term Outlook
The forecasters’ predictions of long-term output growth are slightly higher, while their predictions for long-term inflation
continue to hold steady. The panelists think that real GDP will grow 2.7 percent annually over the next 10 years, up from
2.6 percent in the previous survey. Inflation (measured by the consumer price index) is expected to average 2.5 percent
over the next 10 years, unchanged from the last 15 surveys dating back to December 2001.
Technical Notes
This news release reports the median value across the 32 forecasters on the survey’s panel.
The Philadelphia Fed’s Livingston Survey is the oldest continuous survey of economists’ expectations. The survey
was started in 1946 by the late columnist Joseph A. Livingston. It summarizes the forecasts of economists from
industry, government, banking, and academia. It is published twice a year, in June and December.
3
LIVINGSTON SURVEY
MAJOR MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS, 2009-2010
(levels of variables) JUN 2009 DEC 2009 JUN 2010 2009 2010
FINANCIAL INDICATORS
(levels of variables at end of month) JUN 2009 DEC 2009 JUN 2010 DEC 2010
LONG-TERM OUTLOOK
Average Annual Growth Rate for the Next Ten Years
Source: Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Livingston Survey, June 2009
4
LIVINGSTON SURVEY
June 2009
Tables
Note: Data in these tables listed as “actual” are the data that were available to the forecasters when they were sent the survey
questionnaire on May 20; the tables do not reflect subsequent revisions to the data. All forecasts were received on or before
June 3.
TABLE ONE
MAJOR MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS, 2009-2010
MEDIANS OF FORECASTER PREDICTIONS
NUMBER
OF FORE- ACTUAL FORECASTS ACTUAL FORECASTS
QUARTERLY INDICATORS CASTERS 2008 Q4 2009 Q2 2009 Q4 2010 Q2 2008 2009 2010
1. Real Gross Domestic Product 32 11522.1 11294.3 11357.0 11503.3 11652.0 11330.0 11545.6
(billions, chain weighted)
2. Nominal Gross Domestic Product 32 14200.3 14041.4 14227.8 14518.7 14264.6 14094.2 14598.0
($ billions)
3. Nonresidential Fixed Investment 30 1341.1 1140.3 1091.2 1099.7 1405.4 1131.9 1110.1
(billions, chain weighted)
4. Corporate Profits After Taxes 22 1001.2 982.2 1009.7 1057.7 1109.9 981.2 1054.9
($ billions)
6. Total Private Housing Starts 28 0.556 0.494 0.574 0.704 0.900 0.522 0.753
(annual rate, millions)
7. Producer Prices - Finished Goods 26 169.7 170.6 172.0 173.8 177.3 171.0 173.1
(index level)
8. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) 29 211.6 213.3 214.8 217.0 215.2 213.6 217.2
(index level)
10. Average Weekly Earnings in Mfg. 11 727.8 703.0 704.6 711.3 724.3 708.2 715.0
($)
11. Retail Trade 18 336.4 338.8 344.0 354.1 367.0 341.3 354.7
($ billions)
12. Automobile Sales (incl. foreign) 20 5.2 4.9 5.4 5.9 6.7 5.0 6.1
(annual rate, millions)
TABLE ONE (CONTINUED)
ACTUAL FORECASTS
INTEREST RATES & STOCK PRICES DEC 2008 JUN 2009 DEC 2009 JUN 2010 DEC 2010
(end of period)
14. 10-Year Treasury Note Yield 29 2.25 3.35 3.75 4.00 4.28
(percent)
15. 3-Month Treasury Bill Rate 29 0.11 0.20 0.30 0.54 1.19
(percent)
Source: Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Livingston Survey, June 2009
TABLE TWO
MAJOR MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS, 2009-2010
PERCENTAGE CHANGES AT ANNUAL RATES
10. Average Weekly Earnings in Mfg. 11 -6.7 0.5 1.9 -2.2 1.0
12. Automobile Sales (incl. foreign) 20 -0.3 0.5 0.5 -1.7 1.0
DEC 2008 JUN 2009 DEC 2009 JUN 2010
TO TO TO TO
INTEREST RATES & STOCK PRICES JUN 2009 DEC 2009 JUN 2010 DEC 2010
Note: Figures for housing starts, unemployment rate, auto sales, prime interest rate, 30-year Treasury bond,
and 90-day Treasury bill are changes in levels. All others are percentage changes at annual rates.
Source: Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Livingston Survey, June 2009
TABLE THREE
LONG-TERM (10 YEAR) FORECASTS
__________________________________
STATISTIC
Minimum 1.00
Lower Quartile 1.99
Median 2.45
Upper Quartile 2.80
Maximum 3.50
Mean 2.36
Std. Deviation 0.60
N 31
Missing 1
__________________________________
__________________________________
STATISTIC
Minimum 2.00
Lower Quartile 2.40
Median 2.68
Upper Quartile 2.95
Maximum 3.50
Mean 2.68
Std. Deviation 0.38
N 31
Missing 1
__________________________________
Source: Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Livingston Survey, June 2009