Falling Prices in China Could Be a Boon For the U.S.: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Falling prices in China, driven by a weakened economy, could benefit countries with elevated inflation such as the U.S., India, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Posted 9/3/2023, 8:18:05 PM
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China is facing a severe economic downturn, with record youth unemployment, a slumping housing market, stagnant spending, and deflation, which has led to a sense of despair and reluctance to spend among consumers and business owners, potentially fueling a dangerous cycle.
The blog emphasizes that the war on inflation has been won and that a recession is coming, as indicated by various indicators such as CPI, recession probabilities, freight industry performance, and weak retail sales. The post also highlights the struggles in China's economy and suggests that investors should buy bonds.
Asian stocks, particularly Chinese markets, may find some relief after Wall Street's resilience in the face of rising bond yields, though economic data from China remains underwhelming and foreign investors continue to sell Chinese stocks.
China's weak economy, including an unstable property market and weak consumer demand, is posing risks to global markets and economies like the US, according to experts.
An economic crisis in China is unlikely to have a major impact on the US due to limited exposure in terms of investments and trade, and it may even benefit the US by lowering inflation, according to economist Paul Krugman.
China's economic troubles could lead to lower oil prices and subsequently lower gasoline prices, providing relief for consumers and potentially impacting global energy markets.
China's economic challenges, including deflationary pressures and a slowdown in various sectors such as real estate, are likely to have a global impact and may continue to depress inflation in both China and other markets, with discounting expected to increase in the coming quarters.
China's economy is at risk of entering a debt-deflation loop, similar to Japan's in the 1990s, but this can be avoided if policymakers keep interest rates below a crucial level to stimulate economic growth.
China's economic weakness will pose challenges for developing economies and regions that rely on it for growth, but the U.S. economy is well-positioned to withstand the resulting headwinds, according to U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo.
China's economic slowdown is causing alarm across the world, as it is expected to have a negative impact on global economic growth, leading to reduced imports and trade, falling commodity prices, a deflationary effect on global goods prices, and a decline in tourism and luxury spending.
A potential economic downturn in China may have implications for other countries, but the impact on the United States is expected to be minor due to limited exposure to China's economy.
Concerns arise that the struggling Chinese economy and volatility in the stock market may negatively impact Bitcoin's price and hinder its role as an alternative store of value in the face of a strengthening U.S. dollar.
China's economic problems are beginning to resemble Japan's long-lasting issues, as a real estate crisis, an aging population, surging youth unemployment, and high local government debts create a crisis of confidence, potentially leading to a "lost decade" of economic stagnation and deflation, while Japan shows signs of climbing out of its decades-long economic nightmare with rising inflation and a potentially optimistic outlook.
China's rebound from zero-covid restrictions has resulted in weak growth and deflation, with the lack of consumer spending becoming a major concern for policymakers.
China's currency, the yuan, is at its lowest level against the dollar since the 2008 financial crash, which raises concerns about the country's economic stability and its ability to boost domestic consumption.
Asian stock markets mostly lower as Japanese factory activity and Chinese service industry growth weaken, while Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 rises on hopes that economic data will convince the Federal Reserve that inflation is under control.
If China were to slip into a deflationary spiral like Japan in the 1990s, it could lead to a decrease in consumer spending, a weakened economy, and negative consequences for the rest of the world, including a slowdown in imports for the US and adverse effects on developing economies reliant on Chinese exports and investment.
The global economy is expected to slow down due to persistently high inflation, higher interest rates, China's slowing growth, and financial system stresses, according to Moody's Investors Service, although there may be pockets of resilience in markets like India and Indonesia.
Most Asian stocks fell on Tuesday due to concerns over slowing growth in China, a property sector meltdown, and hot inflation readings, which raised concerns over higher interest rates. Chinese stocks were the worst performers, with investors growing impatient with Beijing's slow approach to stimulus measures.
The prospect of a prolonged economic slump in China poses a serious threat to global growth, potentially changing fundamental aspects of the global economy, affecting debt markets and supply chains, and impacting emerging markets and the United States.
Fears about the health of the global economy have intensified as service sector activity in China, the eurozone, and the UK shows signs of weakness, leading to a drop in share prices in Asia and a decline in the pound against the US dollar.
Asia stocks fall as weak economic data in China and Europe raise concerns over global growth, while the dollar strengthens as investors assess the outlook for U.S. interest rates.
China's economic growth has slowed but has not collapsed, and while there are concerns about financial risks and a potential property crisis, there are also bright spots such as the growth of the new energy and technology sectors that could boost the economy.
European stock markets weakened on Thursday due to signs of slowing growth in Europe and China, as well as concerns about future Federal Reserve tightening. German industrial production fell more than expected, adding to the struggles of the eurozone's largest economy. China's exports and imports also fell in August, indicating continued pressure on its manufacturing sector. Additionally, stronger-than-expected US inflation data raised concerns about sticky inflation. Oil prices fell as signs of slowing Chinese growth overshadowed a draw in US inventories.
Asian markets are weighed down by concerns over high U.S. bond yields, a strong dollar, China's economic struggles, and rising oil prices.
China's consumer price index rebounded in August after slipping into deflation in July, indicating a post-Covid economic recovery, despite sluggish domestic consumption and concerns of a relapse into deflation in the coming months.
China's real estate market downturn, characterized by falling property prices and potential defaults by developers, poses significant risks to Chinese banks, global markets, and Asian economies closely linked to China through trade and investment. The situation has prompted cautiousness among international investors and led to negative impacts on Japan's exports.
China's power may be peaking rather than rising, as its economy enters a permanent slowdown and its population declines, increasing the risk of war with the West, particularly over Taiwan.
China is showing signs of a balance-sheet recession similar to Japan's, with accumulating debt and falling house prices, but there are key differences that suggest it may not face the same fate. State-owned enterprises and property developers account for much of China's debt, and households have low debt relative to their assets. However, the Chinese government's reluctance to increase spending could prolong the recession.
China's credit demand improved, deflationary pressures eased, and the yuan rallied, indicating signs of stabilization in the economy and financial markets after a sharp downturn.
China's consumer prices returned to positive territory in August, increasing by 0.1% from a year earlier, while producer prices fell for the 11th consecutive month; analysts expect consumer prices to recover and services inflation to pick up as energy prices stabilize and the output gap narrows.
China's currency, the yuan, has depreciated over 8% against the dollar as the Chinese economy grows less than expected, making it harder to reach its growth target of 5% for 2023, and worries about the economy have intensified due to issues in the real estate sector and financial health of local governments, causing concerns about the future of the yuan which may experience a slow but steady depreciation in the face of a weak dollar and a desire to maintain a trade surplus.
Despite concerns over the strong US economy and the slowdown in China, emerging markets may still see opportunities for growth due to factors such as a slow divorce from China, India's appeal as an alternative, South Korea's tech market, Mexico's trade links with the US, and the potential for rate cuts in developing economies.
China's macroeconomic challenges, including deflationary pressures, yuan depreciation, and a struggling property sector, could have broader implications beyond its borders, impacting global metal exporters, trade deals, and global inflation; however, investing in China's stocks may offer compelling valuations despite the current downturn.
China is unlikely to devalue its currency, the yuan, despite concerns that it could do so to boost exports, as such a move would risk intensifying capital flight and tightening financial conditions, according to the Institute of International Finance. Instead, the focus will be on domestic easing measures to maintain steady growth, although there is the challenge of balancing the yuan's stability against the strengthening US dollar and other major currencies.
A retreat of funds from Chinese stocks and bonds is diminishing China's global market influence and accelerating its decoupling from the rest of the world, due to economic concerns, tensions with the West, and a property market crisis.
Signs of improvement in China's economy, such as improving credit demand and easing deflationary pressures, may not be enough to stabilize the economy due to bigger concerns of decreasing affordability, tight wages, and rising costs that have not been addressed. A comprehensive policy revamp may be necessary for China's economy to recover.
Rising rice prices in Asia, caused by factors such as export restrictions and drought, are expected to have significant spillover effects and could pose challenges for central bankers trying to manage inflation.
Germany is projected to be the most heavily impacted by the global economic slowdown due to higher interest rates and weaker global trade, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with its economy likely to shrink this year alongside Argentina and experience a weaker 2024. The slowdown in China, inflationary pressures, and tightening monetary policy are among the factors affecting Germany's growth. The OECD also warned of persistent inflation pressures in various economies and called for central banks to maintain restrictive interest rates until underlying inflationary pressures subside.
Chinese stocks defy regional declines as tech stocks rise, while the 10-year Treasury yield slightly decreases from a 16-year high; US futures tick higher following a 1.6% slide in the S&P 500; bond yields rise in Australia and New Zealand after positive US labor market data; and India's sovereign debt is set to be included in JPMorgan's benchmark emerging-markets index.