Skip to main content

Market Commentary – January 2022

Stocks ended January lower as investors dealt with concerns over inflation, the prospects of rising interest rates, and the pace of global economic recovery. The start of fourth-quarter corporate earnings season in January was positive, but not as robust as was seen in December. While the economy advanced at an annualized rate of nearly 7.0% in the fourth quarter, 2022 is expected to see a slowdown triggered by ongoing coronavirus disruptions and fading fiscal support. Escalating tensions between the United States and Russia offered further market agitation.

A late rally wasn't enough to prevent the major benchmark indexes from closing out one of the worst months since March 2020. Only the Global Dow was able to eke out a January gain. An end-of-month rally helped the Nasdaq avert the sharpest January decline on record. Nevertheless, tech stocks were hit hard in January as investors pondered how rising interest rates might weigh on that sector's pricey valuations. The small caps of the Russell 2000 dropped more than 9.5%, while the large caps of the S&P 500 (-5.3%) and the Dow (-3.3%) slid lower.

Not surprisingly, most of the market sectors declined in January. Consumer discretionary fell the furthest, losing 9.7%, followed by real estate, which dropped 8.5%. Information technology, health care, and materials ended down 6.9%, while communication services lost 6.4%. Energy showed continued strength, climbing 19.0%. In fact, the price of crude oil climbed 17.0% last month for its biggest January gain in the last 30 years.

Despite the market downturn, there were some positive economic signs. Nearly 200,000 new jobs were added and fourth-quarter GDP advanced 6.9%. However, industrial production slowed, and new orders for durable goods decreased.

Market/Index* 2021 Close

Prior Month

As of January

31  st

Monthly Change YTD Change
DIJA 36,338.30 36,338.30 35,131.86 -3.32% -3.32%
NASDAQ 15,644.97 15,644.97 14,239.88 -8.98% -8.98%
S & P 500 4,766.18 4,766.18 4,515.55 -5.26% -5.26%
Russell 2000 2,245.31 2,245.31 2,028.45 -9.66% -9.66%
Global Dow 4,137.63 4,137.63 4,161.11 0.57% 0.57%
Federal Funds 0.00% – 0.25% 0.00% – 0.25% 0.00% – 0.25% 0 bps 0 bps
10-yr Treasury 1.51% 1.51% 1.78% 27 bps 27 bps

*Chart reflects price changes, not total return

Last Month's Economic News

  • Employment: Job growth slowed for the second consecutive month in December with the addition of 199,000 new jobs, well below the 2021 monthly average of 537,000. Employment has increased by 18.8 million since April 2020 but is down by 3.6 million, or 2.3%, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020. The unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage point to 3.9%. The number of unemployed persons fell by 483,000 to 6.3 million. Among the unemployed, the number of workers who permanently lost their jobs declined by 202,000 to 1.7 million in December, although this is 408,000 higher than in February 2020. The labor force participation rate was unchanged at 61.9% in December but remains 1.5 percentage points lower than in February 2020. The employment-population ratio increased by 0.2 percentage point to 59.5% but is 1.7 percentage points below its February 2020 level. In December, average hourly earnings increased by $0.19 to $31.31. For 2021, average hourly earnings rose by 4.7%. The average work week was unchanged at 34.7 hours in December.
  • FOMC/interest rates: The Federal Open Market Committee met in January and agreed to continue to cut its asset purchase programs, bringing them to an end in early March. However, the Committee decided to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0.00%-0.25%. Nevertheless, the FOMC noted that with inflation well above 2.0% and a strong labor market, it will soon be appropriate to raise the target range for the federal funds rate.
  • GDP/budget: Gross domestic product rose 6.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared with a 2.3% advance in the third quarter. Consumer spending, as measured by personal consumption expenditures, climbed 3.3% in the fourth quarter (2.0% in the third quarter). The PCE price index, a measure of inflation, increased 6.5% in the fourth quarter after advancing 5.3% in the third quarter. For 2021, the PCE price index rose 3.9% compared with a 1.2% increase in 2020. Nonresidential (business) fixed investment increased 2.0% (1.7% in the third quarter), while residential fixed investment decreased 0.8% (-7.7% in the third quarter). Exports jumped 24.5% in the fourth quarter after falling 5.3% in the prior quarter. Imports climbed 17.7% following a 4.4% rise in the third quarter.
  • Inflation: The Consumer Price Index climbed 0.5% in December after advancing 0.8% in November. In 2021, the CPI rose 7.0% — the largest 12-month gain since June 1982. Price growth was broad based, with most major categories showing an increase, led by used cars and trucks (3.5%) and apparel (1.7%). Prices for food rose 0.5% in December. Energy prices fell 0.4% in December, pulled lower by a 0.5% dip in gasoline prices and a 2.4% decrease in fuel oil prices. Nevertheless, for 2021, energy prices increased 29.3%, with gasoline prices climbing 49.6% and fuel oil prices rising 41.0%. Also of note in 2021, food prices rose 6.3%, new vehicle prices advanced 10.7%, and prices for used cars and trucks climbed 37.3%.
  • Prices that producers receive for goods and services rose 0.2% in December following a 1.0% November jump. Producer prices increased 9.7% in 2021, the largest advance since data was first calculated in November 2010. Producer prices less foods, energy, and trade services rose 0.4% in December after increasing 0.8% the previous month. For the year, prices less foods, energy, and trade services moved up 6.9%, the largest rise since 12-month data was first calculated in August 2014.
  • Housing: Sales of existing homes in December fell for the first time following three consecutive monthly gains. Existing home sales dropped 4.6% in December from November's total. The median existing-home price was $358,000 in December, up from $353,900 in November and 15.8% from December 2020. Unsold inventory of existing homes represents a 1.8-month supply at the current sales pace, a decline from both November (2.1 months) and from one year ago (1.9 months). Sales of existing single-family homes decreased 4.3% in December after increasing 1.6% in November. For 2021, sales of existing single-family homes fell 6.8%. The median existing single-family home price was $364,300 in December, up from $362,600 in November.
  • Unlike sales of existing homes, sales of new single-family homes advanced 11.9% in December after climbing 12.4% in November. The median sales price of new single-family houses sold in December was $377,700 ($416,100 in November). The December average sales price was $457,300 ($479,300 in November). The inventory of new single-family homes for sale in December represented a supply of 6.0 months at the current sales pace, down from the November estimate of 6.6 months. Despite the growth in the number of new homes sold at the end of the year, for 2021, sales of new single-family homes fell 14.0% compared to 2020.
  • Durable Goods: December saw new orders for durable goods decrease 0.9% after increasing 3.2% in November. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.1%. Transportation equipment, down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, falling 3.9%. For 2021, new orders for durable goods rose 20.9%.
  • International Markets: The Biden administration held discussions with several of the largest banks in the United States on possible sanctions against Russia in efforts to ensure such actions won't disrupt the global financial system. Tensions remained high after Russia stationed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's border. While the Russian government has repeatedly said it has no intention of invading the country, Western allies are discussing a variety of measures should activity escalate. In addition, several European countries are working to diversify fuel supplies in the event a conflict disrupts shipments of gasoline and diesel from Russia. Elsewhere, Germany's economy contracted in the fourth quarter of 2021 as its gross domestic product dipped 0.7%. Taiwan's economy expanded in 2021 at its fastest pace in eleven years. The central banks in several countries raised interest rates in 2021, including the United Kingdom, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and South Africa. In the markets for January, the STOXX Europe 600 Index dropped 4.0%; the United Kingdom's FTSE gained 1.0%; Japan's Nikkei 225 Index dipped 6.2%; and China's Shanghai Composite Index declined 7.6%.
  • Consumer Confidence: The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index ® declined in January. The index stands at 113.8, down from 115.2 in December. The Present Situation Index, based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions, improved to 148.2 in January from 144.8 in December. The Expectations Index, based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, declined to 90.8 in January, down from December's 95.4.

Eye on the Year Ahead

A common adage for the stock market says that as January goes, so goes the year. Hopefully, such is not the case for 2022. The Federal Open Market Committee does not meet in February, giving investors more time to ponder what course to follow with the impending interest-rate hike looming in March.


The information and opinions in this report were prepared by the ANB Financial Services Division of ANB Bank. Information and opinions have been obtained or derived from sources we consider reliable, but we cannot guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Opinions represent ANB Financial Services opinion as of the date of this article and are for general information purposes only. ANB Financial Services does not undertake to advise you of any change in its opinions or the information contained in this article. Past performance does not indicate future results. The value or income associated may fluctuate. There is always potential for loss, as well as gain. Trust and Investment Services are not insured by the FDIC, Not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the depository institution subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.