With autos and general consumer spending rolling over, the two things propping up the economy are housing and durable goods orders, more specifically airplane orders. What’s up with that?

Durable Goods New Orders and Shipments

Compare durable goods new orders with capital goods new orders excluding aircraft. The latter is known as core capital goods because it is a measure of actual business investment.

Despite sentiment numbers that are through the roof, businesses are not putting their money where their sentiment is. I asked a friend connected to the industry his take. I also asked about order cancellations. Here is his reply.

Hi Mish

This is drip by drip.

Part of your answer is found in this article: American Airlines Delays Boeing, Airbus Jet Deliveries.

These orders were placed years ago. Some are deferred, some canceled. Boeing does not disclose the cost to cancel, but there is some. Typically there is a % down payment with additional payments as the airplane assembly progresses. Boeing usually, in a normal market, is able to place these canceled/deferred airplanes with other customers.

Boeing is very good with its customers and accommodates to the extent possible. But, wide-body airplane demand is collapsing. Emirates just pulled 12 flights per day as US-Mideast travel is in decline due to Trump’s actions.

2018 and 2019 look grim for Boeing. Expenses are high and they are laying off to stay ahead of the curve.

Five-Year Slump in Wide-Body

Leeham News reports Pontifications: Five-Year Slump in Wide-Body Demand Seen.

The above analysis has not translated into economic reality yet. Perhaps it won’t. But credit card defaults have soared, autos are heading South, consumer spending is weak, wages have not kept up with inflation, and regional bank lending has collapsed.

Related Articles

1. April 29: Regional Lender Loan Crash: Nearly Every Major Regional Bank Missed Lending Estimate
2. April 28: Economists Expect 2nd-Quarter Recovery: Investigating the 1st-Quarter Weakness Theory
3. March 21: Consumer Sentiment Statistical Noise: Modern Day Snake Oil
4. March 28: Consumer Confidence Strongest Since December 2000: A Strong Contrarian Indicator?
5. April 13: Econoday Parrot Squawks Again after Sentiment Rebounds to 17-Year High

Meanwhile,  please don’t worry because the Bottom 50% of Americans No Longer Matter.