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Economists Good at Short-Term Recession Forecasts But Accuracy Declines for Longer Horizons

  • Economists are pretty accurate at predicting recessions one quarter ahead, according to a new study.

  • However, their predictive ability declines rapidly the further into the future they try to forecast.

  • A survey of economists currently gives a 34.4% chance of a recession in Q4 2022.

  • Accuracy and precision are different in statistics - you can be precise but inaccurate.

  • Economic forecasts help but we must accept uncertainty about the future economy.

investopedia.com
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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.
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.
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.
Fidelity International's Salman Ahmed maintains his prediction of a recession next year, citing the full impact of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy tightening and a wave of corporate debt refinancing as leading factors.
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.
Market jitters persist despite economists downplaying the chances of a recession, as global stocks and US futures remain in the red and inflation fears continue to linger.
Despite weak economic news and concern over a slowing economy, there is still optimism among investors that a recession is unlikely.
Goldman Sachs chief economist Jan Hatzius has revised his forecast for a U.S. recession in 2023, lowering the probability from 35% to 15% due to positive inflation and labor market news, while still expecting a mild economic slowdown.
The global economic slowdown and U.S. recession risks are causing concern among officials, with experts discussing recession forecasts and advising investors on portfolio and sector strategies.
Despite recent optimism around the U.S. economy, Deutsche Bank analysts believe that a recession is more likely than a "soft landing" as the Federal Reserve tightens monetary conditions to curb inflation.
The risk of overestimating the economy is now a real possibility as economic data continues to defy recessionary predictions, but the lagging production side of the economic equation and the deviation between GDP and Gross Domestic Income (GDI) suggest increased risk to the optimistic outlook and a potential recessionary warning.
The latest economic forecasts from Federal Reserve regional banks show varying estimates of the economy, with one indicating it is red-hot and another suggesting a recession.
Market analyst Ed Yardeni has increased the chances of a recession by the end of next year from 15% to 25%, citing rising oil prices and widening deficits as contributing factors, although he notes that a repeat of the 1970s is unlikely due to the expected productivity boom.
Investors will closely scrutinize the Federal Reserve's updated economic forecasts, particularly its interest rate outlook, to determine the market's next big story.
The predictive power of yield curve inversions as indicators of economic recessions has weakened, as recent events have shown discrepancies in their accuracy and limitations due to external factors such as inflation expectations, Federal Reserve policies, and fiscal stimulus.
The era of infrequent recessions may be coming to an end, as economists predict that boom-and-bust cycles will become the norm again due to growing national debts and inflationary pressures.
The Federal Reserve's poor forecasting record, evident in its inaccurate projections for interest rate increases and inflation, suggests that investors should not base their investment decisions on the Fed's predictions or any other forecasts.
The bond market's recession indicator, known as the inverted yield curve, is likely correct in signaling a coming recession and suggests that the Federal Reserve made a major mistake in its inflation policy, according to economist Campbell Harvey. The yield curve, which has correctly predicted every recession since 1968, typically lags behind the start of a recession, with the average wait time being 13 months. Harvey believes that a recession is imminent due to the Fed's tight monetary policy and warns against further interest rate hikes.
Despite threats such as a government shutdown, the UAW strike, rising gas prices, and the resumption of student loan repayments, economists are mostly unconcerned about a potential economic slowdown, believing the economy to be internally robust but vulnerable to mistakes.
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.
The Canadian economy has entered a long-delayed recession due to highly indebted households, overvalued home prices, and a slowdown in consumer spending, with the recession expected to last until the first quarter of 2024 and result in a 1.5% decline in GDP and an increase in the unemployment rate to 7.2%.
The US economy has triggered the fourth and final signal for a potential recession, and historical data suggests that recessions will become more frequent in the future due to government interventions and other factors such as inflation, tightening monetary policy, oil price spikes, and tight government budgets.
Deutsche Bank's economists are still predicting a US recession despite the ongoing resilience of the economy, pointing to rapidly rising interest rates, surging inflation, an inverted yield curve, and oil price shocks as the four key triggers that historically have caused recessions and are currently happening.
Investors and experts differ on the timing, but many believe a recession is inevitable in the near future due to falling consumer confidence and a slowing economy, prompting discussions about the Federal Reserve's interest rate moves.
Falling bond prices in the US, resulting in higher Treasury yields, suggest that a recession might be approaching, according to investor Jeff Gundlach, who is closely watching the upcoming jobs report for further signs.
Falling U.S. bond prices and the rapid normalization of the Treasury yield curve are signaling that a recession may be imminent, according to DoubleLine Capital founder Jeff Gundlach, who will be closely monitoring the September jobs report for further clues.
The economy is not likely to enter a recession until late 2024 or 2025, and metro Phoenix is expected to perform better than other parts of the country, with Arizona projected to grow three times faster than the U.S. However, there is still uncertainty as key indicators point in different directions, and experts are monitoring factors such as inflation, job growth, and interest rates.
A new report warns that a recession may be imminent as employment, business optimism, and output continue to decline, with companies struggling to maintain staffing numbers and cope with higher borrowing costs and weaker customer demand.
Despite the chronic unreliability of economic projections and the frequent revision of forecasts, economists' consensus often guides economic policymaking, which highlights the need to focus on current economic conditions rather than short-term projections.
Fannie Mae has revised its prediction for a mild recession in the US economy, now forecasting it to occur in the first half of 2024, as consumer spending continues to outpace incomes and previous interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve take effect.
The chances of the U.S. economy avoiding a recession are improving, with recession odds dropping to 46 percent, the lowest since the first quarter of 2022, according to economists surveyed by Bankrate. However, risks of a recession remain, with more than 2 in 5 economists suggesting that the chances are still greater than 50 percent.
Economists are predicting that the U.S. economy is less likely to experience a recession in the next year, with the likelihood dropping below 50% for the first time since last year, thanks to factors such as falling inflation, the Federal Reserve halting interest rate hikes, and a strong labor market.
Despite high interest rates and sluggish GDP growth, analysts predict that the UK will avoid a recession due to a likely end to rate increases, falling inflation, and a return to real pay growth.
The U.S. economy is facing risks in 2024 as inflation remains high and interest rates are historically high, leading to concerns about a potential recession; however, the Federal Reserve is optimistic about achieving a soft landing and maintaining economic growth. Economists are divided on whether the Fed's measures will be effective in avoiding a severe recession, and investors are advised to proceed cautiously in their financial decisions.
Economists have raised their US growth projections and reduced recession odds to a one-year low due to strong consumer spending supported by a still-robust labor market, despite high borrowing costs and inflation.
The inverted yield curve, which is currently flashing red, is causing concern among economists, as it historically predicts recessions with a delay of around six to twelve months, although it is not fool-proof. Despite the current strong economy, experts suggest recession-proofing one's finances by paying off debt, building up an emergency fund, and investing in recession-proof assets.
The US economy is heading towards a recession that is likely to be milder than previous ones, as it is being "engineered" by the Federal Reserve and they have the ability to reverse the measures that slowed growth.
Wall Street economists and the Federal Reserve have lowered the probability of a recession within the next year, citing declining inflation, a stable Federal Reserve, and strong economic growth, but this optimism is based on lagging economic data and fails to consider the potential negative revisions in the future.