Bernanke and company’s continued insistence this week that the Fed’s uber-accommodative policy hasn’t played a role in driving up commodity prices continues to grate, and undermine the central banker’s credibility.
We’ve highlighted the extensive (and comprehensive) list of commodities with rising prices in ISM’s manufacturing survey, with few commodities reported as being in short supply. And no commodities — zilch — falling in price.
Well, no surprise, ISM’s February non-manufacturing survey out today shows essentially the same thing. Count 41 separate items listed as commodities up in price, while only three — cotton, cotton products and electrical components — are considered in short supply. Two commodities were down in price – computer supplies and janitorial services.
Perhaps there are some nuances to supply and demand, and their effect on commodity prices that Dr. Bernanke has uncovered to explain all this. I’m certainly not an expert, but I can read a chart, and just about every commodity I look at began rising right after the Fed chairman’s Jackson Hole QE2 warm-up speech in late August.
To illustrate this even better, let’s go back to ISM’s reports, pre-Jackson Hole. Take a glance at the August manufacturing survey. Just three — three commodities – up in price (caustic soda, copper and corrugated containers); three down in price (polyethylene, polypropylene and steel) and only one — capacitors — listed in short supply. Continue reading…
