Facts:
- Unemployment decreased 0.2%, down to 3.8%.
- 4th Quarter GDP came in at 2.6%, according to the first estimate.
- PMI posted another month of expansion, with the index reading 54.2%.
- The S&P 500 (C Fund) gained 3.21%
Assessment:
- 2.6% quarterly GDP is a bit weak. Slightly concerning.
- Unemployment decreasing is always a good sign.
- The S&P 500 is exploding, pacing for it’s best quarter since 2009!
- PMI still continues it’s impressive streak, performing well above-average (50% is considered average) for the past 26 months.
Bottom Line:
Boy, am I glad we didn’t panic in December 2018 (did you?). C fund is up over 11% during that time. It would take the G fund about 4 YEARS to do the same. Solid fundamentals, again. Very little drama in the media air. In such an environment the market should do well. I even added some S fund into my riskiest portfolio. No F fund. No I fund.
Check out the 3 page report below. DON’T JUST LOOK AT RATE OF RETURN. Always view the target return of each portfolio in context of its ranges of fluctuation.
If you are on the brink of retirement, consult with me before you position your TSP too aggressively.