Recession Model Forecast 06-01-2014

The following article updates the diffusion index, recession slack index, aggregate recession model, and aggregate peak-trough model through May 2014.

Diffusion Index

The Trader Edge diffusion index equals the percentage of independent variables indicating a recession.  There are a total of 16 explanatory variables, each with a unique look-back period and recession threshold. The resulting diffusion index and changes in the diffusion index are used to estimate the probit, logit, and neural network forecasting models.

The graph of the diffusion index from 1/1/2003 to 6/1/2014 is presented in Figure 1 below (in red - left axis).  If you would like to view a graph of the earlier historical data (going back to 1960), please revisit A New Recession Slack Indicator.    The gray shaded regions in Figure 1 below represent U.S. recessions as defined (after the fact) by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). The value of the S&P 500 index is also included (in blue - right axis).

In February 2014, for the first time since the end of January 2013, one of the 16 explanatory variables indicated a recession.  The number of explanatory variables indicating a recession returned to zero in March and remained at zero in April and May.  If the number of variables implying a recession had continued to increase, that would have been a concern.  Instead, the variable that was pointing toward a recession moved back above its recession threshold level at the end of March 2014 and has remained there.

Please note that past estimates and index values will change whenever the historical data is revised.  All current and past forecasts and index calculations are based on the latest revised data.

Figure 1: Diffusion Index 06-01-2014

Figure 1: Diffusion Index 06-01-2014

Recession Slack Index

The Trader Edge recession slack index equals the median standardized deviation of the current value of the explanatory variables from their respective recession thresholds.  The resulting value signifies the amount of slack or cushion relative to the recession threshold, expressed in terms of the number of standard deviations.

The gray shaded regions in Figure 2 below represent U.S. recessions as defined (after the fact) by the NBER.  The median recession slack index is depicted in purple and is plotted against the right axis, which is expressed as the number of standard deviations above the recession threshold.

The dark-red, horizontal line at 0.50 standard deviations denotes a possible warning threshold for the recession slack index.  Many of the past recessions began when the recession slack index crossed below 0.50.  Similarly, many of the past recessions ended when the recession slack index crossed back above 0.0.

The recession slack index varied between 0.96 and 1.27 during 2013.  Since emerging from the great recession, 0.78 was the lowest recorded value of the recession slack index. The recession slack index had declined significantly in early 2014 and the revised recession slack index value of 0.91 at the end of February was the lowest value since late 2012.   Had the decline in the recession slack index continued, the recession slack index could have approached the warning threshold of 0.50 standard deviations above the recession threshold.

Instead, the recession slack index increased from a revised value of 0.91 in February to 1.06 in March.  It then jumped in April to 1.25 and again in May to 1.31.  The impressive rebound in the recession slack index has removed any immediate concern about the threat of an imminent recession.  In fact, the latest recession slack index value of 1.31 is the highest value since early 2010.

The ability to track small variations and trend changes over time illustrates the advantage of monitoring the continuous recession slack index in addition to the diffusion index above, which moves in discrete steps.

While it is useful to track the actual recession slack index values directly, the values are also used to generate the more intuitive probit and logit probability forecasts.

Figure 2: Median Recession Slack Index 06-01-2014

Figure 2: Median Recession Slack Index 06-01-2014

Aggregate Recession Probability Estimate

The Trader Edge aggregate recession model is the average of four models: the probit and logit models based on the diffusion index and the probit and logit models based on the recession slack index.  The aggregate recession model estimates from 1/1/2003 to 6/1/2014 are depicted in Figure 3 below (red line - left vertical axis).  The gray shaded regions represent NBER recessions and the blue line reflects the value of the S&P 500 index (right vertical axis).  I suggest using a warning threshold of between 30-40% for the aggregate recession model (green horizontal line).

The aggregate recession model probability estimate for 6/1/2014 was 0.0%, which was unchanged from last month's revised estimate of 0.0%.  According to the model, the probability that the U.S. is currently in a recession continues to be extremely remote.

Figure 3: Aggregate Recession Model  06-01-2014

Figure 3: Aggregate Recession Model 06-01-2014

Aggregate Peak-Trough Probability Estimate

The peak-trough model forecasts are different from the recession model.  The peak-trough models estimate the probability of the S&P 500 being between the peak and trough associated with an NBER recession.  The S&P 500 typically peaks before recessions begin and bottoms out before recessions end.  As a result, it is far more difficult for the peak-trough model to fit this data and the model forecasts have larger errors than the recession model.

The Trader Edge aggregate peak-trough model equals the weighted-average of nine different models: the probit and logit models based on the diffusion index, the probit and logit models based on the recession slack index, and five neural network models.

The aggregate peak-trough model estimates from 1/1/2003 to 6/1/2014 are depicted in Figure 4 below, which uses the same format as Figure 3, except that the shaded regions represent the periods between the peaks and troughs associated with NBER recessions. The aggregate peak-trough model probability estimate for 6/1/2014 was 4.3%, which was unchanged from the revised value of 4.3% at the end of April.  The current peak-trough probability estimate of 4.3% is very low and remains well below the warning threshold of 30%-40%.

Figure 4: Aggregate Peak-Trough Model 06-01-2014

Figure 4: Aggregate Peak-Trough Model 06-01-2014

Conclusion

U.S. recession risk declined in March, April, and May after a very short-lived increase in February.  The diffusion index declined in March and remained at zero in April and May.  The recession slack index increased in March, April, and May, resulting in a decrease in the peak-trough recession probability estimate from 9.1% at the end of February to 4.3% at the end of May.  All of the forecast values are well inside their respective warning thresholds.

Trader Edge Strategy E-Subscription Now Available: 20% ROR

The Trader Edge Asset Allocation Rotational (AAR) Strategy is a conservative, long-only, asset allocation strategy that rotates monthly among five large asset classes. The AAR strategy has generated annual returns of approximately 20% over the combined back and forward test period.  Please use the above link to learn more about the AAR strategy.

Print and Kindle Versions of Brian Johnson's New Book are Now Both Available on Amazon

Option Strategy Risk / Return Ratios: A Revolutionary New Approach to Optimizing, Adjusting, and Trading Any Option Income Strategy

Feedback

Your comments, feedback, and questions are always welcome and appreciated.  Please use the comment section at the bottom of this page or send me an email.

Referrals

If you found the information on www.TraderEdge.Net helpful, please pass along the link to your friends and colleagues or share the link with your social or professional networks.

The "Share / Save" button below contains links to all major social and professional networks.  If you do not see your network listed, use the down-arrow to access the entire list of networking sites.

Thank you for your support.

Brian Johnson

Copyright 2014 - Trading Insights, LLC - All Rights Reserved.

Share

About Brian Johnson

I have been an investment professional for over 30 years. I worked as a fixed income portfolio manager, personally managing over $13 billion in assets for institutional clients. I was also the President of a financial consulting and software development firm, developing artificial intelligence based forecasting and risk management systems for institutional investment managers. I am now a full-time proprietary trader in options, futures, stocks, and ETFs using both algorithmic and discretionary trading strategies. In addition to my professional investment experience, I designed and taught courses in financial derivatives for both MBA and undergraduate business programs on a part-time basis for a number of years. I have also written four books on options and derivative strategies.
This entry was posted in Economic Indicators, Fundamental Analysis, Market Timing, Recession Forecasting Model and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *