Accelerating US economy sideswipes markets
U.S. economic growth may be accelerating in the second half of 2023, defying earlier recession forecasts and leading to a repricing of long-term inflation and interest rate assumptions.
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Posted 8/17/2023, 10:02:00 AM
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China's fiscal revenue increased by 11.5% in the first seven months of 2023, but the growth rate was slower than the previous six months, indicating a potential decline in the economy's momentum.
The U.S. economy is forecasted to be growing rapidly, which is causing concern for the Federal Reserve and those hoping for low interest rates.
The US economy has exceeded the Federal Reserve's estimate of its growth potential in recent years, with growth averaging 3% under President Joe Biden, but concerns about rising public debt and inflation, as well as the Fed's efforts to control them, may lead to slower growth in the future and potentially a recession. However, there are hints of improving productivity that could support continued economic growth.
Thailand's economy grew at a slower pace in the second quarter due to weak exports and slower investment, prompting the government to lower its 2023 growth forecast, while the central bank may not raise rates again amidst faltering economic recovery and low inflation.
Despite initial predictions of a recession, the U.S. economy has experienced unexpected growth, with high consumer spending and continued borrowing and investment by businesses being key factors.
The U.S. economy continues to grow above-trend, consumer spending remains strong, and the labor market is tight; however, there are concerns about inflation and rising interest rates which could impact the economy and consumer balance sheets, leading to a gradual softening of the labor market.
The majority of economists polled by Reuters predict that the U.S. Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates again, and they expect the central bank to wait until at least the end of March before cutting them, as the probability of a recession within a year falls to its lowest level since September 2022.
Despite optimistic economic data and the belief that a recession has been avoided, some economists and analysts believe that a recession is still on the horizon due to factors such as the impact of interest rate hikes and lagged effects of inflation and tighter lending standards.
Recent profit reports from companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot, along with other consumer statistics, indicate that the case for a 2023 recession is weakening, as the consumer economy shows resilience with rising real incomes, substantial savings, and continued spending in sectors like automobiles and services.
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.
Despite predictions of a slowdown, the American economy continues to show strong growth, with recent data suggesting annualized growth of nearly 6% in the third quarter; however, concerns about overheating and potential inflation, as well as increasing bond yields, raise doubts about the sustainability of this growth.
India's economic growth likely accelerated to 7.7% in the April-June quarter, driven by strong service sector growth, high demand, and increased government capital expenditure, according to a Reuters poll.
China's unexpected economic slowdown, driven by excessive investment in the property sector and local government spending, is leading experts to question whether a collapse is imminent, although they believe a sudden collapse is unlikely due to China's controlled financial system; however, the slowdown will have implications for global growth and emerging markets, particularly if the U.S. enters a recession next year.
Stocks are overvalued and a recession is expected in the first half of next year, according to economist Steve Hanke. He predicts that inflation will cool, Treasury yields will fall, and house prices will remain stable.
The US economy is expected to slow in the coming months due to the Federal Reserve's efforts to combat inflation, which could lead to softer consumer spending and a decrease in stock market returns. Additionally, the resumption of student loan payments in October and the American consumer's credit card addiction pose further uncertainties for the economy. Meanwhile, Germany's economy is facing a contraction and a prolonged recession, which is a stark contrast to its past economic outperformance.
The US economy grew at a slower pace in the second quarter, but still showed more strength than expected, with GDP revised down to 2.1% from an initial 2.4%; however, forecasts indicate a robust reading in the third quarter of 2.5% or higher, despite concerns of a potential recession.
The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.1% annual pace in the second quarter, downgraded from the initial estimate of 2.4%, but still demonstrating resilience in the face of higher borrowing costs and inflation concerns.
Consumer spending is driving third-quarter GDP growth, but unsustainable spending habits, tightening lending standards, and the depletion of pandemic savings may lead to a decline in consumer spending in early 2024.
Credit rating agency Moody's has raised its 2023 U.S. economic growth forecast to 1.9% while cutting its estimate for China, citing mounting challenges for the latter, including weak business and consumer confidence and an aging working population.
The U.S. economy is defying expectations with continued growth, falling inflation, and a strong stock market; however, there is uncertainty about the near-term outlook and it depends on the economy's future course and the actions of the Federal Reserve.
British finance minister Jeremy Hunt has stated that inflation is expected to halve by the end of 2023, with the goal of easing pressure on household budgets and increasing productivity, as the government aims to boost optimism about the economy ahead of the expected elections next year.
Top economist David Rosenberg predicts that the US will experience a recession within the next six months due to the aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and the erosion of credit quality in credit card debt.
Forecasts for China's economic growth in 2023 and 2024 have been cut, potentially hindering the country's goal of becoming a "medium-developed country" by 2035 and surpassing the US as the world's No.1 economy.
Deutsche Bank strategists warn that the U.S. economy has a greater chance of entering a recession within the next year due to high inflation and the Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hike campaign.
The U.S. economy is expected to expand at a 2.2% annual rate in the current quarter, according to a real-time estimate from the New York Federal Reserve, which is lower than the Atlanta Fed's estimate of 5.6% growth; the strength of the economy will impact the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates and inflation.
The US economy is facing a looming recession, with weakness in certain sectors, but investors should not expect a significant number of interest-rate cuts next year, according to Liz Ann Sonders, the chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. She points out that leading indicators have severely deteriorated, indicating trouble ahead, and predicts a full-blown recession as the most likely outcome. Despite this, the stock market has been defying rate increases and performing well.
Inflation in the US is expected to accelerate again, with economists predicting a monthly rise of 3.6%, suggesting that price pressures within the economy remain a challenge in taming high inflation.
The labor markets are expected to pause on rate changes as the economy slows down, with growth in employment and capital expenditure decreasing and downside risks increasing, such as higher interest payments for the government and a potential United Auto Workers strike. However, there is hope for a rebound in 2024 with a potential pause in rate cuts and moderating inflation.
US inflation is expected to continue its slowdown in the coming months due to easing car prices, declining rents, and a potential slowdown in the job market.
The Federal Reserve's restrictive monetary policy, along with declining consumer savings, tightening lending standards, and increasing loan delinquencies, indicate that the economy is transitioning toward a recession, with the effectiveness of monetary policy being felt with a lag time of 11-12 months. Additionally, the end of the student debt repayment moratorium and a potential government shutdown may further negatively impact the economy. Despite this, the Fed continues to push a "higher for longer" theme regarding interest rates, despite inflation already being defeated.
The economic data in aggregate suggests that the US economy is on track for a soft landing in 2024, with the Federal Reserve successfully slowing down economic growth and achieving its target inflation rate, despite concerns from the bear camp.
The 40-year period of economic expansion in the U.S. from 1980 to 2020 is likely to be replaced by a more regular cycle of boom-bust cycles and frequent recessions, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank, due to factors such as higher inflation and increasing debt-to-GDP levels.