### Summary
Investor Jeremy Grantham warns that the U.S. will experience a recession next year due to the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes and unsustainable asset prices.
### Facts
- Grantham believes the Fed's previous predictions and actions have been wrong, and it has failed to predict recessions in the past.
- He argues that the economy is still feeling the impact of the Fed's interest rate hikes, which are increasing borrowing costs and depressing real estate prices.
- Grantham criticizes the Fed for stimulating asset price bubbles with low interest rates and aggressive purchases of securities.
- He predicts that the unsustainable growth in asset prices and a lack of investment in key raw materials will lead to a recession.
- Economist David Rosenberg shares Grantham's bearish outlook and warns of headwinds to the U.S. economy, including China's economic issues and the end of the U.S. student debt relief program.
- Both Grantham and Rosenberg have had to push back their recession predictions but remain convinced that rising interest rates will eventually lead to an economic downturn.
The Federal Reserve faces new questions as the U.S. economy continues to perform well despite high interest rates, prompting economists to believe a "soft landing" is possible, with optimism rising for an acceleration of growth and a more sustainable post-pandemic economy.
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.
Market optimism around the US economy may decline as recent shifts in the Treasury yield curve indicate a potential trigger for a correction or rapid unwind in positions, with investors closely watching Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech.
The Federal Reserve meeting in September may hold the key to the end of the tightening cycle, as markets anticipate a rate hike in November, aligning with the Fed's thinking on its peak rate. However, disagreement among Fed policymakers regarding the strength of the economy and inflation raises questions about the clarity and certainty of the Fed's guidance. Market skeptics remain uncertain about the possibility of a "soft landing," with sustained economic expansion following a period of tightening.
Morgan Stanley's top economist, Seth Carpenter, believes that the US is nearing a dream economic scenario with falling inflation and steady growth, suggesting that the Federal Reserve is close to achieving a soft landing.
The U.S. economy may achieve a soft landing, as strong labor market, cooling inflation, and consumer savings support economic health and mitigate the risk of a recession, despite the rise in interest rates.
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.
Goldman Sachs has lowered its odds of a US recession in the next 12 months to 15% from 20%, citing the resilience of the economy, supportive income growth, and a balanced labor market, with Chief Economist Jan Hatzius suggesting a soft landing is possible and that further rate hikes by the Federal Reserve are unlikely.
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.
Bank of America warns that the US economy still faces the risk of a "hard landing" due to rising oil prices, a strong dollar, and potential interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, contrasting with the optimistic outlook of other Wall Street banks.
The US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, expressed concerns about China's economic challenges and its potential impact on the global economy, while also noting that China has the policy tools to address these challenges.
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.
The Federal Reserve has expressed concerns about disruptions in the US Treasury market due to hedge fund trading strategies that could exacerbate market crashes.
Despite economists' hopes for a "soft landing" of the economy, signs such as inflation and uncertain variables make it difficult to determine whether the U.S. economy has achieved this outcome.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes that despite the national debt nearing $33 trillion, the federal government's debt burden remains under control due to the net interest as a share of GDP remaining at a reasonable level. However, critics warn of the potential risks of a growing debt and credit bubble. Additionally, Yellen hopes for a quick resolution to the United Auto Workers' strike, stating that the economy remains strong overall.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes the U.S. economy is on a path of sustainable growth and can withstand near-term risks, including a potential government shutdown, a United Auto Workers strike, student loan repayments, and spillovers from China's economic challenges. Yellen emphasized the importance of addressing these headwinds while maintaining a strong labor market and consumer spending. She also expressed the Biden administration's intention to de-risk supply chains that overly depend on China without seeking to decouple entirely from the Chinese economy.
The upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve meeting is generating less attention than usual, indicating that the Fed's job of pursuing maximum employment and price stability is seen as successful, with labor market data and inflation trends supporting this view.
The Federal Reserve's continued message of higher interest rates is expected to impact Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar, with the 10-year Treasury yield predicted to experience a slight increase and the U.S. dollar expected to edge higher.
Investors are more focused on the release of new forecasts from the Federal Reserve, which will reveal their views on the prospect of an economic "soft landing" and the rate environment that will accompany it.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicates that while policymakers project a "soft landing" for the US economy, he does not confirm it as a baseline expectation due to external factors beyond their control such as the autoworker strike, government shutdown, and higher borrowing costs.
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged while revising its forecasts for economic growth, unemployment, and inflation, indicating a "higher for longer" stance on interest rates and potentially only one more rate hike this year. The Fed aims to achieve a soft landing for the economy and believes it can withstand higher rates, but external complications such as rising oil prices and an auto strike could influence future decisions.
The Federal Reserve's power to control the flow of dollars in the US is theoretical, as global credit flows freely and much of it finds its way to the US regardless of the Fed's desires, making the concept of a "soft landing" engineered by central bankers impossible and needless.
Fed Chairman Powell's response that a soft landing is not his base case and that factors outside their control may decide the outcome shocks the stock market, leading to three days of market declines, despite the recent surge in the US economy.
The US economy is facing turbulence as inflation rates rise, causing losses in US Treasuries and raising concerns about the impact of high interest rates on assets like Bitcoin and the stock market. With additional government debt expected to mature in the next year, there is a fear of financial instability and the potential for severe disruptions in the financial system. The Federal Reserve may continue to support the financial system through emergency credit lines, which could benefit assets like Bitcoin.
The soft landing scenario for the US economy is in doubt due to five economic shocks, including a potential government shutdown, rising oil prices, a strike by the United Auto Workers, the resumption of student loan payments, and high mortgage rates nearing 8%.
The Federal Reserve is in a better position to deliver a soft landing for the U.S. economy due to facing different problems compared to the 2007-2008 financial crisis, according to F/m Investments CIO and President Alex Morris.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expresses cautious optimism about the potential of AI to boost productivity while emphasizing the importance of U.S. investment in other areas, highlighting the impact of recent spending bills. She also discusses the economic outlook, fiscal responsibility, interest rates, and the need for derisking in the U.S.-China relationship.
Federal Reserve officials are not concerned about the recent rise in U.S. Treasury yields and believe it could actually be beneficial in combating inflation. They also stated that if the labor market cools and inflation returns to the desired target, interest rates can remain steady. Higher long-term borrowing costs can slow the economy and ease inflation pressures. However, if the rise in yields leads to a sharp economic slowdown or unemployment surge, the Fed will react accordingly.
The surge in long-term Treasury yields is jeopardizing the Federal Reserve's plans for a soft landing as it keeps interest rates high, increasing the risk of a recession.
Concerns surround the upcoming release of U.S. payrolls data and how hawkish the Federal Reserve needs to be, as global markets experience a period of calm following a tumultuous week that saw Treasury yields rise to 16-year highs, crude oil prices drop, equities decline, and the yen strengthen. Japanese government bond yields are also causing concern, as investor sentiment towards the Bank of Japan's stimulus remains low.
Federal Reserve officials view the increasing yields on long-term US Treasury debt as a sign that their tight-money policies are effective, although they do not see it as a cause of concern for the economy at this point.
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.
Investors' nerves were settled by dovish remarks from Federal Reserve officials, suggesting that rising yields on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds could have a similar market effect as formal monetary policy moves, potentially reducing the need for further rate hikes.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is optimistic about the ability of American consumers, businesses, and banks to handle rising interest rates, and she believes the Federal Reserve's efforts to tame inflation are going well. She also dismissed concerns that a strong jobs report could have negative effects on the economy.
Investors are closely monitoring the bond market and September CPI data to determine the Fed's stance on interest rates, with Seema Shah of Principal Asset Management highlighting the circular nature of market reactions to yield spikes and their subsequent declines. She suggests that while there are concerns about upward momentum, the equity market will find comfort in a continued drop in yields and could remain range-bound for the rest of the year. Diversification is recommended as the market narrative remains unclear, and investors may consider waiting until early 2024 for greater clarity on the economy and the Fed's actions.
Some Federal Reserve officials are optimistic about finding a monetary policy that lowers inflation to their 2% target without causing high unemployment, but there are risks that could push the Fed onto a more familiar path of an economy struggling with rising borrowing costs and waning confidence.
The Federal Reserve is adopting a cautious stance due to uncertainty surrounding the US economy, including risks posed by volatile data and tightening financial markets.
The Federal Reserve officials are uncertain about the U.S. economy's outlook and plan to proceed cautiously in deciding whether to raise interest rates, with some acknowledging the risks of raising rates too high or not enough to curb inflation.
