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The California Index Rebounded Sharply in February
The Comerica California Economic Activity Index rose 3.8% annualized in the three months through February, the largest increase since June 2022. The index was up 3.1% from a year earlier.
Four constituent components of the index rose in February, while five declined. Employment rose by 21,800, but so did continuing claims for unemployment insurance. California’s unemployment rate has risen sharply since mid-2022 and at 4.4% in February was nearly a full percentage point above the national average of 3.6%. The unemployment rate is likely to rise further near term, as key sectors, such as the tech industry face strong headwinds. California’s industrial production likely contracted further in February as industrial electricity consumption wanes from the near-term peak last April.
After falling precipitously in the previous two months, housing starts roared back and were up 24.3% in February. Led by higher prices in the Los Angeles and San Diego metros, Californian house prices rose in February, albeit modestly, snapping eight consecutive months of declines. Tourism rebounded sharply in early 2023 after a weak second half of last year, with seasonally-adjusted hotel occupancy and air passenger volumes up solidly on both monthly and year-ago bases.
California’s economy grew by a modest 0.4% in 2022. It is expected to soften in the coming months amid headwinds from a weak housing sector, high interest rates and inflation, and slowing consumer spending. On top of these issues weighing on the national economy, the tech slowdown and the fallout from the failure of Silicon Valley Bank will be incremental negatives for the Golden State.
