A September Unemployment Rate Of 4.0% Will Signal A Recession
The unemployment rate model predicts that if the unemployment rate reaches 4% or higher in September 2023, a recession will be signaled with a 73% probability for October.
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Posted 9/3/2023, 2:43:02 PM
seekingalpha.com
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Despite the optimism from some economists and Wall Street experts, economist Oren Klachkin believes that elevated interest rates, restrictive Federal Reserve policy, and tight lending standards will lead to a mild recession in late 2023 due to decreased consumer spending and slow hiring, although he acknowledges that the definition of a recession may not be met due to some industries thriving while others struggle.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has revised down its tally of total employment in March 2023 by 306,000, indicating that there were about 300,000 fewer job gains during April 2022 to March 2023 than initially estimated, which could impact the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.
The number of job vacancies in the US dropped in July, indicating a cooling labor market that could alleviate inflation, while fewer Americans quit their jobs and consumer confidence in the economy decreased, potentially impacting consumer spending; these trends may lead the Federal Reserve to delay a rate hike in September.
The US added 187,000 jobs in August, but the unemployment rate rose to 3.8 percent, indicating a plateau in the labor market as the Federal Reserve considers another interest rate hike.
The US job market shows signs of cooling as unemployment unexpectedly increases to 3.8%, but Federal Reserve officials are unlikely to change their policy stance.
Despite weakening economic growth, the unemployment rate remains low, which is puzzling economists and could lead to a "full-employment stagnation" scenario with a potential recession and low unemployment rates, posing challenges for the Federal Reserve and the overall economy.
Goldman Sachs has lowered its probability of a U.S recession in the next 12 months to 15% due to positive inflation and labor market data, while also predicting a reacceleration in real disposable income and expecting the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged.
Former Goldman Sachs partner Abby Joseph Cohen believes that while a recession is not the most likely scenario, the probability of an economic downturn has been increasing in recent months due to weakening tailwinds and potential political issues.
The forecasted U.S. recession in 2024 is expected to be shorter and less severe than previous recessions, with the economy's interest-rate sensitivity much lower due to reduced leverage and elevated savings from the postpandemic environment, leading investors to consider positioning for investment opportunities that will drive markets into 2024.