Vanguard, one of the largest municipal fund managers, expects states and localities to slow bond sales by at least 11% to about $400 billion next year because of a faster than anticipated revenue rebound and billions of dollars in federal aid.
“A lot of municipals are flush with cash,” Paul Malloy, head of municipal investments at Vanguard, said in an interview. “They don’t need to borrow as much.” The firm has almost $267 billion in muni assets.
Vanguard’s forecast, including municipal-backed corporate debt, is lower than 2022 forecasts from 11 other strategists compiled by Bloomberg. The 2022 supply estimates ranged from Morgan Stanley’s projection of $420 billion to Bank of America’s forecast for $550 billion.
Last year, municipal issuers sold about $454 billion in long-term debt as the pandemic shuttered businesses, drove up unemployment and led tax revenue to drop temporarily. With three weeks left in 2021, long-term municipal issuance has reached about $450 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
On Credit
Malloy expects lighter sales next year because state and local governments have “a lot of cash” and municipal issuers “are in really great shape” from a fundamental credit perspective, he said. The pandemic’s revenue hit has subsided for many.
Texas, among the largest state issuers, is an example of the pull back in debt overall, he said. The state usually borrows to prevent a deficit until more revenue arrives.
The state’s total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in November 2021 rose 22% from the same period a year ago and is up almost 16% compared to 2019, according to a statement on the Texas comptroller’s website.
In addition to rebounding revenue, state and local governments are getting $350 billion from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act.
On Rates And Valuation
Another reason to reduce borrowing next year is the cost may increase for municipal governments, Malloy said. The 10-year AAA muni benchmark could move up by mid-2022 from the current 1.05%, driven by yields in the Treasury market, Malloy said.
Muni issuers have benefited from rates hovering around historical lows partly because supply largely has not kept pace with investor demand this year and the imbalance has kept a lid on yields.