The world's top central bankers meeting at Jackson Hole are concerned about lingering inflation challenges and uncertain policy tightening, which could lead to increased financial market turbulence and potential economic recessions.
Over half of U.S. small business owners believe the economy is already in a recession, though their own financial conditions remain strong and they have less concerns about the health of their banks, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business.
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.
The US Federal Reserve must consider the possibility of the economy reaccelerating rather than slowing, which could have implications for its inflation fight, according to Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin. He noted that retail sales were stronger than expected and consumer confidence is rising, potentially leading to higher inflation and a need for further tightening of monetary policy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Economists predict that inflation will cool without a recession, as the effects of rate hikes have already taken shape, putting the US economy on track for a soft landing.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes the US economy is on a path that will prevent a recession while maintaining control over inflation, as polls show increasing optimism among Americans; she also expects a strong labor market despite slower economic growth.
Economist Campbell Harvey warns that the Federal Reserve should not raise rates later this year, as he believes a recession may occur in 2024 due to an inverted yield curve and potential distortions in Bureau of Labor Statistics and GDP figures.
Entrepreneur Jaspreet Singh warns that signs of a potential recession in America include labor shortages, inflation-driven spending, and high interest rates, with economists predicting that the country may start feeling the effects of a recession by the second quarter of 2024. Singh advises Americans to educate themselves about saving money and investing to prepare for the possible downturn.
The Federal Reserve officials signal that they believe they can control inflation without causing a recession, with forecasts of higher economic growth and unchanged inflation outlook.
The Federal Reserve has paused raising interest rates and projects that the US will not experience a recession until at least 2027, citing improvement in the economy and a "very smooth landing," though there are still potential risks such as surging oil prices, an auto worker strike, and the threat of a government shutdown.
The Federal Reserve's measure of inflation is disconnected from market conditions, increasing the likelihood of a recession, according to Duke University finance professor Campbell Harvey. If the central bank continues to raise interest rates based on this flawed inflation gauge, the severity of the economic downturn could worsen.
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 U.S. economy is experiencing a higher share of working-age people in the workforce than ever before, and despite some inflationary concerns, the country is not at risk of a recession, according to economist Betsey Stevenson.
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.
There are four risks that could potentially push the US economy into a recession sooner rather than later, including a weakening labor market, headwinds for the consumer, high borrowing rates, and the rising chances of a government shutdown, according to Raymond James.
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan believes that the Federal Reserve has successfully tamed inflation but warns that factors like the strength of US consumers may lead to higher interest rates; however, Moynihan expects the US to avoid a recession and experience slow GDP growth in the coming quarters.
A recession is highly likely in the US and investors should prepare for it by adopting a defensive strategy, according to the CEO of the TCW Group, Katie Koch, who believes that the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes will start to have an impact and expects consumers and companies to struggle in this environment.
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.
The US economy may be on the brink of a recession due to a combination of factors including the impact of Fed hikes, auto strikes, student loan repayments, higher oil prices, and a global economic slowdown.
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.
Bloomberg Economics warns that a recession is likely to hit the US soon, citing factors such as the ongoing autoworkers strike, the return of student loan repayments, and the potential government shutdown after the short-term spending bill expires in November.
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.
The likelihood of the US avoiding a recession has decreased, as two factors, including a surge in interest rates and the potential for resurgent inflation, could push the economy into a downturn, says economist Mohamed El-Erian.
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.
Goldman Sachs economists warn that the recent surge in US Treasury yields will hamper economic growth and pose financial risks, though the bank does not predict a recession; they estimate a 0.5 percentage-point blow to US GDP over the next year.
Goldman Sachs warns that the Federal Reserve's prolonged tight monetary policy and higher interest rates will have a negative impact on the economy and markets, potentially leading to lower GDP growth, stock market pressure, and challenges for corporations.
Higher-for-longer interest rates are expected to hinder U.S. economic growth by 0.5%, potentially leading unprofitable public companies to cut their workforce, according to strategists at Goldman Sachs, who also noted that the Federal Reserve's current benchmark rate is insufficient to cause a recession. Additionally, the firm warned that the high rates could increase the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio to 123% over the next decade without a fiscal agreement in Washington.
Famed hedge-fund manager, Paul Tudor Jones, warns that a decline in the stock market and a recession is likely to occur in the face of the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary tightening, and advises investing in gold and bitcoin due to the challenging geopolitical environment.
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.
Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic believes that the US central bank does not need to raise interest rates further and does not see a recession on the horizon, despite the slowing economy and falling inflation caused by previous rate hikes. He also emphasized that the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas creates uncertainty and could impact the global economy.
Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic believes that the U.S. central bank does not need to raise interest rates further, and he sees no recession on the horizon, despite the impact of previous rate hikes on the economy and inflation. Bostic also acknowledges the uncertainty created by the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but remains prepared for unexpected events.