1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg Penl Podcast. I'm Paul swing you. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Along with my co host Lisa Brahma Waits. Each day 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: we bring you the most noteworthy and useful interviews for 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: you and your money. Whether at the grocery store or 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: the trading floor. Find a Bloomberg Penl podcast on Apple 6 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts, as well as 7 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: at Bloomberg dot com. Today we got a slew of 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: better than expected economic data out of the United States, 9 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: including demand for US business equipment unexpectedly increasing in October 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: by the most since the start of the year. So 11 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: is it the time pop the champagne? Get ready for 12 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: a tick up across the board next year? At Dan 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: North joining US now chief economist at North America at 14 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: youler her mays, Dan, can you give us a sense 15 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: first of all on how positive today's economic data was? Well? 16 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: I think, first of all, good morning and happy almost 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: Turkey day to you. Um. Looking at the month to 18 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: month data on a number of things this morning, I 19 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: mean you sighted durable goods, Yeah, it's up for the month, 20 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: but I tended to take a longer term view, and 21 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: if you look at core orders were still negative. Year 22 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: over year negative point eight A year ago that was 23 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: four point one percent, So the downtrend there. And if 24 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: you look at shipments UM, which go into g d P, 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: you know it's point four percent year over year, so 26 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: that bodes well poorly for fourth quarter g d P. 27 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: And you know a year ago was four point seven 28 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: percent UM. And you saw a few other things this 29 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: morning that looked kind of positive on the surface, but 30 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 1: the biggest one to me is the indicator of the consumer. 31 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: You know, the consumer has been sort of holding up 32 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,919 Speaker 1: the economy at least that's the narrative. Well this morning 33 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: you see, uh, for the most recent data in October, 34 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: real consumption was only up point one percent to two 35 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: point three percent the last month of the year over 36 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: year last month that was two point six percent, was 37 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: three point two percent last year UM, and real income 38 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: was down point three So I think that's the most 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: important data of the morning, And certainly if you look 40 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: at a longer term trend, to me, it's it's distinctly negative. 41 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: So Dan focusing on the consumer again. The consumers you 42 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: mentioned has been kind of the bulwark of this economy 43 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: over the last several quarters. Are you concerned that the 44 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: consumer may not be able to do its part again 45 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: for the economy. I really am. And and here's again 46 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: as a perfect example, real uh disposable personal income down 47 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: this month. What I see is, let's holiday sales are 48 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: coming up, right. I mean, in a few days we're 49 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: going to get the anecdote reports of how good holiday 50 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: sales are. And I think they're probably going to be 51 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: pretty good. You know, By the way, I love this 52 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: sort of cynical resignation that everyone who I've spoken to 53 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: this morning has about Black Friday. Way to go with 54 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: the spirit, carry on. You're like, yeah, they're I said, 55 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: they're going to be pretty good. Do we think we've 56 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: got the exuberance of consumer confidence of the stock markets high? So, 57 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: you know, over the past few years it's something like 58 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: four percent holiday sales growth overall, more so on black variety, 59 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: of course. But let's say, you know, the consumer spends 60 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: as much as usual for holiday sales, maybe more because 61 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: of the exuberance. I think that sets us up for 62 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: a little bit of a fall in the first quarter, 63 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: especially since income is trending down, and that's what really 64 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: gives us a concern about a future slowdown. We think 65 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: growth in the first quarter could be flat even Dan, 66 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: you think there could be a US recession in or 67 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: maybe we think there's definitely going to be a sharp slowdown. 68 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: We're looking at something like one point six percent GDP 69 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,839 Speaker 1: for all of you know this past year is two 70 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: point so for sure a significant slowdown, and if this 71 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: trade war picks up, you know, that could really knock 72 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: half or one percentage point off a GDP, And in 73 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: our world, that's a lot, Dan, sound go ahead. I 74 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: was just gonna say, we still do think that there's 75 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: a possibility of recession, but certainly a slow down, no 76 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: question about that. Dan. I'm trying to square what you're 77 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: saying with the consensus right now among at least Wall 78 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: Street analysts which believe that who believe that the US 79 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: equity market is going to do very well, particularly in 80 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: the first quarter or first half of the year, with 81 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: some accelerating growth. Why are they getting it so wrong? 82 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: I wouldn't start they're getting it wrong about the stock market. 83 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: Number one. Two things, you know, we are really involved 84 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: in trade credit and we have to have a more 85 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: realistic approach to what's actually happening to business on the 86 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: front lines, and we're seeing an absolutely distinct deterioration there. 87 00:04:55,160 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: But the important point is um, the stock market isn't 88 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,799 Speaker 1: necessarily connected to the economy a lot of the time. 89 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: For instance, if you go back and look at the 90 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: past ten recessions, the stock market only gave you some 91 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 1: kind of warning three times, So it's not at all 92 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 1: uncommon for them to disconnect. So I can't argue with 93 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: the banks and brokerages who want to sell investments who 94 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: were saying, yes, stock Mark is going to be great. Well, 95 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: it could well be, you know, with low interest rates, 96 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: but it's not a connection to the economy necessarily. Dan North, 97 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: thanks so much for joining us, Dan Northeast, chief economist 98 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: for North America. For Euler Ermez joining us on the 99 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 1: phone from charm City, Baltimore, Maryland. Appreciate his comments. Time 100 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: to check in with Bloomberg Opinion. We're joined by opinion 101 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: calumnists retail columnists. Our house actually covers all things retail 102 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: for Bloomberg Opinion. She joins us from the Washington d 103 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: C Bureau. Sarah, thanks so much for joining us. Black 104 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: Friday coming up, Cyber Monday coming up. What is the 105 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: expectation for holiday sales this year? Yeah? So I think 106 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: the expectations are largely upbeat for the season. Overall holiday 107 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: sales are expected to be up about four percent, and 108 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 1: that's because consumers are feeling pretty good. And you know, 109 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: we saw quite a mixed bag of retail earnings results 110 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: in the last couple of weeks, with some strong performers 111 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: and some weak performers. But I think that just suggests that, uh, 112 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: for for the ones that are executing well and do 113 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: have a good strategy, there are plenty of dollars out 114 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: there to to win and be fought for this season. Sarah, 115 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: let's talk about Black Friday. This is the cliche of 116 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: people lining up at three am to bust through the 117 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 1: doors and these manufactured televised events, And I'm wondering, is 118 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 1: that the reality anymore? Or is the vast amount of 119 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: Black Friday shopping online? So it's definitely not the reality 120 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: anymore more, folks are this isn't increasingly digital holiday. There 121 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: will be seven point five billion dollars spent online alone 122 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: on holiday and quotes, we're gonna just put that in 123 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: quotes but carry out. Yes, but we so certainly Black 124 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: Friday is becoming more and more of a digital occasion. However, 125 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: stores still really matter a lot, and there will be 126 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: big crowds in the stores. Uh, both Thanksgiving evening when 127 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: a lot of the retailers kick off their big deals events, 128 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: and and all throughout the weekend. Um. You know, for 129 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 1: the holiday season, overall, only about of shopping will happen online. Uh. 130 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: The vast majority of it will still happen in stores. Sir, 131 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: What are gen Z folks? How are they shopping? I 132 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: know they do a lot of e commerce, but did 133 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: they what is their store bricks and mortar experience? Are 134 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: actually even going to the malls? So interestingly they are, 135 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: in fact, they shop a lot more like us, older 136 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: than you might imagine. Um. So for purchases like food 137 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: and beverage, they're still doing, you know, something like ninety 138 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: one to their shopping in stores for items like apparel, 139 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: seventy percent of their shopping in stores, and they actually 140 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: say in surveys they liked the experience of being in 141 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: a store. When we talk about this weekend specifically, uh, 142 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: Deloyte did some survey work around this and asked, folks, 143 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: will you be out shopping with family and friends? Gen 144 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: Z was most likely to respond amongst people who were 145 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: going to go to stores this weekend. Gen Z was 146 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: most likely to respond that they were doing it in 147 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: a social way, that they were doing it with family 148 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: and friends. And I think if you've never been out 149 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: on Black Friday before, I've been doing this for seven 150 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 1: years now as in my capacity as a reporter UM, 151 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: and this is consistent with what you see is that 152 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: there aren't a lot of people out in the stores 153 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: this weekend who are just trying to check off their 154 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: gift list and you know, being very task oriented and 155 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: errand oriented. This is a social event. This is something 156 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: that people like to do with their family and friends. 157 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: Are sort of a sport or ritual. I'm wondering about 158 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: this data that we got out today. UM. Retailers were choice. 159 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: This is on the Bloomberg terminal. There's never been a 160 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: better time to buy heading into a Black Friday, and 161 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: this was a look at buying conditions in the US 162 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: advancing to the highest ever levels. Does that foretell something 163 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: in your mind? And and sort of where they may 164 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: be shopping too, you know, I think that in terms 165 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: of where they're going to be shopping this year, I 166 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: think the winners are going to be the retailers that 167 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: have done the best job of kind of integrating their 168 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: online and in store experiences. I think Walmart, Target in 169 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: Best Buy are clear examples of that, where it's easy 170 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: to ping pong back and forth between their websites and 171 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: between their stores to place an order online and pick 172 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: it up in the store, or to browse in the 173 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: store and go and buy online later. I think those 174 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: kinds of factors are what's going to be shaping people's 175 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: purchasing decisions most and of course where the discounts are. 176 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: There's no doubt that this is a very deals oriented weekend, UH, 177 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: and that that is shaping a lot of the decision 178 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: making about where dollars gets spend. Sir, with all the 179 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: changes in consumer spending, e commerce and so on, just 180 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 1: give us a sense of how important still is this 181 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: how they shopping period for retailers, the all shopping period 182 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 1: is critically important. UM. It's more important for some retailers 183 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: than others. So toy stores, jewelry stores, for example, h 184 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: they do draw a more disproportionate share of their sales 185 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: during the holiday season than say a bookstore. UM. So 186 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: it varies by retailer, but this is a really important 187 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: time of year, not only for the actual dollars that 188 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: are pulled in, but just because it's a chance to 189 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: make an impression with a consumer that you know, in 190 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: the case of an apparel store, you might only see 191 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: two or three times a year, right, And so if 192 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: you're not showing them when they come into your store 193 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: or pull up your website that you have good merchandise, 194 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: that you have good pricing, that you're sort of aspirational 195 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: and inspirational, that kind of sets a tone that will 196 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: stick with that consumer for the rest of the year. 197 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: So it's a very important, uh, several weeks for the 198 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: retail industry. Sarah how Zac, thank you so much for 199 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 1: being with Sarah. How's that covers all things retail for 200 00:10:52,640 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Opinion Up, Well, it is the day before Thanksgiving. 201 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: People are gearing up for family and friends and food 202 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: and also for a lot of us shopping on maybe 203 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: even tomorrow evening heading into Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 204 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: To get a preview, we welcome Mark Hamrick, senior economic 205 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: analyst at bank rate dot Com, joining us on the 206 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:28,839 Speaker 1: phone from Washington, d C. Mark, Thanks so much for 207 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: joining us. I love to get your thoughts on how 208 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,319 Speaker 1: you think this holiday shopping, Stevens is going to kick 209 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: off on it's called Friday. Sure, good to be with you, 210 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: Paul and Lisa. Well, I'm sure it'll start off with 211 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: a bang. Obviously, through this shopping period, which truly begins 212 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: before November one, Americans indicated they would start their holiday 213 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: shopping in that time. Hold on a second, when is 214 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: it just shopping? I mean, if you're starting before November one, 215 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: can we just call it shopping or is it this 216 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: typically for the holidays? So I think it's an intention 217 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: to buy holiday gifts. And I think from a consumer 218 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: standpoint that's quite wise because we know that this industry 219 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: is promotional almost all the time anymore because it's so competitive. 220 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: And from a bank RT perspective, I also like the 221 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: idea of not sort of taking the hit to the 222 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: either the bank account or the credit cards, um, you know, 223 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: uh late in the year, if if you have the 224 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: ability to spread out those purchases. So to ask your 225 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: question from a bank reat data perspective, we did ask Americans, 226 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: by the way, and just published this survey this week 227 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: whether they intend to spend more or less or about 228 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: the same, and of Americans said they intend to spend 229 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: about the same as last year, only said they'd spend more, 230 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: said they'd spend less. We know the Yeah, So how 231 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: does this cohere with the idea that this is the 232 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: best time ever for consumers and that they're more confident 233 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: than ever heading into Black Friday? Um, I, you know, 234 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: I guess the question best time for consumers? I I'd 235 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: want to play that out a little bit and and 236 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: have an idea about how that works exactly. But there's 237 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: plenty of competition out there, and between online and brick 238 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: and mortar, you certainly can uh pick and choose, and 239 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 1: particularly in the apparel world, where it feels like that 240 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,559 Speaker 1: is sort of yesterday's news in the sense of things 241 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: to have. So um, you know, I think also consumers 242 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: are always consuming, right, and so the question is, you know, 243 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:26,599 Speaker 1: I think for a lot of people who are you 244 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 1: might call them well qualified consumers, what do they need? 245 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: And for many the answer is not much? And I 246 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: think that's one of the reasons why purchase of experiences 247 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: has become more of a thing, because you can always 248 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: have more experiences, but we don't necessarily need another sweater. 249 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 1: So Mark, give us a sense of from your survey work. 250 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: Are people gonna spend money they have. Are they going 251 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: to rack up some debt here going into the holiday season. Yeah, 252 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: And of course that's one of our key concerns, right, 253 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: and I think it should be our concern as a 254 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: society or as a nation as well. And so I 255 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: suppose the good news here is that a slight majority 256 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: fifty said that they're going to spend money that they 257 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: already have. And then of those who gave us an answer, 258 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: in other words, if they had an idea about where 259 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 1: they would use their financial resources, said they'd use some 260 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: combination of credit. In that mix, only about six indicated 261 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: that they would use either most or all with credits 262 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: only six percent, or go leaning heavily on the plastic 263 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: you know, which raises a question in my mind. We've 264 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: heard about the strength of the consumer powering the economic 265 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: recovery in the United States over the past five ten years. 266 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: I'm trying to understand how much this has been done 267 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: on credit and how much further it has to go, 268 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: given the fact that rates are still low, but that 269 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: we are starting to see delinquencies chack up a bit, 270 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: at least in credit cards and auto loans. Well, rates 271 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: are low from a credit card perspective, right. Uh. You know, 272 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: we survey this all the time, and the average rate 273 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: for consumer credit card is cent. Of course, you don't 274 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: need to take that eighteen percent hit if you're paying 275 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: the balance off within the month and then store cards 276 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: are above twenty UM. So you know, I love the 277 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: use of reward oriented credit cards personally, but I loathe 278 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: the idea of allowing those balances to go beyond thirty days. 279 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: But to your question, I think it has as far 280 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: to go as the economic expansion has far to go, 281 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: and as long as we can have actual gains and 282 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,239 Speaker 1: income or wages that is above the rate of inflation 283 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: and so um. You know, I think that is sort 284 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: of the conundrum to use an Allen Green Spanish word, 285 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: uh that you know, while the FED is sort of 286 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: fighting to get inflation up to its would be target, uh, 287 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of consumers are sort of saying, hey, 288 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: wait a minute, what about education? What about healthcare? Those 289 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: should matter more, shouldn't they because those have the outsize 290 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: impacts on our on our finances, and they do matter 291 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: a lot. Right, So what are we hearing and or 292 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: what are you seeing out there as it relates to 293 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: gen Z about how they're buying stuff out there. Are 294 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: they still buying stuff? Are they just more into experiences? Yeah, 295 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: this is a great question, and I'm glad you asked 296 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: it because I think this may be one of the 297 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: one of the things that is going to be most 298 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: fascinating in the period to come. And So for those 299 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: who aren't all into the cohort categories here, we're talking 300 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: about those who are age eighteen to twenty two. And 301 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: of course millennials are perhaps the most talked about UM 302 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: and to some degree take the most heat in print, 303 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: etcetera via views of the words latte and avocado toast, 304 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: and I get a little tired of that. But but 305 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: the real reality is that the gen Z folks are 306 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: really looking to be shaking things up with respect to 307 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: UH for example, looking to buy uh, you know, gently 308 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: used clothing for example. And when we ask people who 309 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: is focused on saving as a reason why they're not 310 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: spending more gen Z again, those eighteen to twenty two 311 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: popped up by far at the top of the list. 312 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 1: That was so, you know, these are the people who 313 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: truly have been digital only all their lives. Some of 314 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 1: the millennials were a bit of a mix between analog 315 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,479 Speaker 1: and digital. And I think that there's a back uh 316 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: lash to that, just the same as in some ways 317 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,679 Speaker 1: the rest of society is having a backlash attack. Um. 318 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: You know, tech is has become the punching bag that 319 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: the bankers were ten years ago. Uh and and so, 320 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: and I think that there are some valid reasons for that, right, 321 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: the fact that people can be bullied in that space, 322 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: and they also want to have touch points. Sure, and 323 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: there is now a shift towards some more social affairs 324 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: in addition to a big tech. Mark Cameric, thank you 325 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: so much for being with us. Mark Camerck is a 326 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: senior economic analyst with Banquet dot Com, joining us from Washington, 327 00:17:44,119 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: d C. The years of the unit corn of given 328 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: way to a year of skepticism with some high profile 329 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: misses when it comes to we Work and other darlings 330 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: of the venture capital space. But this doesn't really paint 331 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: the whole picture. Joining us now, Matt Miller, chief executive 332 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: officer of and broker, joining us from San Francisco. Matt, 333 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: you've been surveying the venture capital space, but not just 334 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: the mega deals or the mega companies within the sector. 335 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: Can you give us a sense of what you're looking at. Yeah, sure, 336 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 1: thank you. We work with thousands of venture back companies. 337 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: Our company build an online platform for insurance, and venture 338 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: back companies are one of our main customer segments. So 339 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: we get data from thousands of back companies, both small 340 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: ones and large ones, and a few days ago we 341 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: publish a report with our findings on all of the 342 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 1: data from twenty nineteen that we see across the entire 343 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: venture industry. So what are some of the key takeaways 344 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: from your report, Because, again, as Lisa suggested, the VC community, uh, 345 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: Silicon Valley broadly defined, has taken some lump here in 346 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: the public market. Look, I mean, I think when you 347 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: look at the numbers, there's a lot of talk about 348 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: funding slowdown or were expecting one, but you don't really 349 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: see it yet. I think what we see as funding 350 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: activity is still quite strong, particularly in early in middle 351 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: stage investments, and so I think that we also see 352 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: companies that are still able actually to raise pretty sizeable 353 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: amounts of money despite having relatively small or even being 354 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: pre revenue. So I think from a deal activity standpoint, 355 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 1: at least right now, you still see investors trying to 356 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,400 Speaker 1: lean in and get deals done. How about the actual companies, 357 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: how are they doing. I think, you know, obviously it 358 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: varies across the span. I mean, there are companies that 359 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: are doing quite well, companies that are potentially slowing down 360 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: and starting to hordcasts. I think one interesting tech trend 361 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: we see when we look at the data is that 362 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: companies in California certainly are hiring fewer people relativity the 363 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 1: amount of funding that they're raised than companies and other 364 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: parts of the country. I think obviously a part of 365 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: that is just due to the cost of hiring here, 366 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: but I think a part of it could also be 367 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: companies that are trying to preserved capital. What are the 368 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: sectors right now that vcs are allocating maybe more money 369 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: than maybe we've seen in the past. Yeah, I think 370 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: certainly one of the things that we see is fintech 371 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: continuing to be particularly strong um both in terms of 372 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: average size of deals and overall deal flow UM. So 373 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: I think that's an area where both just judging from 374 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: the investor sentiment that we connect with but also looking 375 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: at the numbers, that I think we should expect to 376 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: see uh pretty wide and continued pattern of growth for 377 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: fintech companies. But also I think we start to see 378 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: UM still still some decent traction and consumer goods and 379 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: consumer hardware and so companies that have had a couple 380 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: of big accepts in the space, and I think there's 381 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:45,719 Speaker 1: investors that are still leaning in. Can you give us 382 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: a sense of the investments made by the venture capital 383 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,719 Speaker 1: community and sort of the trend line of them. Are 384 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 1: they increasing, are they decreasing? Are they tending to shift 385 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: more towards the higher bigger companies, are the smaller ones? 386 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: What are you seeing? Yeah? Um, I think we see 387 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:03,439 Speaker 1: in general it depends a little bit on the sector, 388 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: but overall continent UH pattern of growth. If you look 389 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: at the deal volume of total funding, I think you 390 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: know you do see a lot of still large growth 391 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: deals coming into relatively small number of startups that are 392 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: those that have the most traction momentum. But when you 393 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: broaden the aperture and look across the entire spectrum, I 394 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: think you continue to see UH a reasonably strong amount 395 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 1: of activity, and not just in the usual places of 396 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: California and New York, but I think small venture deals 397 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: are getting done increasingly across the entire country. I think 398 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 1: one thing we definitely see is that as companies start 399 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: to branch out. Even though San Francisco is still the 400 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 1: bulk of where we see most funding activity, there are 401 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 1: places like Utah and Texas where we're starting to see 402 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 1: a growth of startups and a growth of some early 403 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: stage deals as investors get more comfortable with technology companies 404 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 1: being built outside of just the Bay Area. Man, I 405 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: know there's UM seed rounds, Series A, Series B. Are 406 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: all those kinds of rounds as conscious of those? Do 407 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 1: they share similar similarities in terms of strength or lack 408 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: of strength? It's a good question. Actually probably not. It 409 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: really depends. I think you can look at companies UM 410 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: that you call around a seed round or call around 411 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: a Series A that have wildly different sizes of revenue 412 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: and a number of employees, And so to some degree, 413 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: I think the naming nomenclature really just varies depending on 414 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: how companies are trying to UH position themselves. But I 415 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: think you do see certain trends like to raise a 416 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: series A round. I think you most companies want to 417 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 1: have UH an established business model, real revenue in the door. 418 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: Maybe not quite a proven traction, but UM certainly enough 419 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 1: points where you know you can justify a larger size 420 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,679 Speaker 1: of investment, and companies that move on to a series 421 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: B of call it, you know, ten to fifteen million 422 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: dollars or more, tend to have a repeatable business model 423 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,880 Speaker 1: where you know you're doing something that works. People are 424 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: generally can see the pattern and see how you can 425 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: go into a much larger business. So, even though I 426 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: think there are differences specifically between companies at the at 427 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: each round, right, you do see some transmit that tend 428 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: to continue. Matt Miller, thanks so much for joining us. 429 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,439 Speaker 1: Appreciate your thoughts on the venture capital world. Matt Miller's 430 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: the CEO of M Broker. They've just put out a 431 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: report kind of detailing their views kind of what they're 432 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 1: seeing in the venture capital community. And I think it's 433 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: a Tommy discussion because, as you mentioned, Lisa, twenty nineteen, 434 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 1: we came into the year thinking, boy, we're gonna really 435 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 1: spread the wealth of the venture capital and private equity 436 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 1: community to the public markets and public investors with you know, 437 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: the Ubers and lifts of the world and we works 438 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: of course, uh and some of those big high profile 439 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: deals obviously been very disappointing for public equity investors. So um, 440 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 1: I think the story we hear from the VC communities. Yes, 441 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: there were some big disappointments, but there's a lot of smaller, 442 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: midsized deals that continue to work well. Thanks for listening 443 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 1: to the Bloomberg P and L podcast. You can subscribe 444 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: and listen to interviews at Apple Podcasts or whatever podcast 445 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: platform you prefer. Paul Sweeney, I'm on Twitter at pt 446 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,639 Speaker 1: Sweeney and Lisa abram Boy It's I'm on Twitter at 447 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: Lisa A. Bramwoit's one before the podcast. You can always 448 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:02,560 Speaker 1: catch us worldwide on Bloomberg Radio.