3 Factors That Could Drive the Next Recession
The economy is humming along nicely, but how long can the good times continue?
The economy is humming along nicely. 2018 is on track for the best GDP growth since 2015. The unemployment rate is at its lowest level since 2000. Both business and consumer confidence are strong. But how long can the good times continue?
A few years out, the danger will increase. Think 2020 or 2021. Looking that far ahead is always hard, of course. But there are sound reasons for thinking the next recession could rear its head sometime early in the next decade. Here’s how that could unfold:
1) Today’s tight job market threatens to hike inflation a few years down the line. With labor so scarce, pay is perking up — good for workers, of course, and also good for consumer spending. But big wage gains can spur higher prices of everything else.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
2) Rising inflation will put the Federal Reserve in a bind. The Fed already plans to keep raising its interest rate — two more quarter-point hikes this year and three in 2019. But that’s assuming inflation behaves. As rising wages start to push prices higher, central bankers will be under increasing pressure to jack up interest rates faster. The Fed may find itself lifting interest rates at a bad time.
3) The benefits to the economy of last year’s tax overhaul and the two-year spending increase that Congress passed earlier this year will have largely run their course by 2020. In other words, there will be less oomph for the economy coming from Washington. The odds of passing new, economy-boosting legislation in an election year are low.
Tighter money and less spending by Uncle Sam are a recipe for recession. The Fed can reverse course and slash interest rates if it sees lending drying up and business suffering from weaker sales. But by that point, it may be too late.
Stocks would likely start sliding several months before the downturn — the historical pattern of market declines that go hand in hand with recessions.
The good news: The next recession should be fairly mild, not wrenching, like the Great Recession, with its toxic mix of financial crisis and housing crash. Fortunately, such economic wrecking balls come along only once in a great while.
David is both staff economist and reporter for The Kiplinger Letter, overseeing Kiplinger forecasts for the U.S. and world economies. Previously, he was senior principal economist in the Center for Forecasting and Modeling at IHS/GlobalInsight, and an economist in the Chief Economist's Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce. David has co-written weekly reports on economic conditions since 1992, and has forecasted GDP and its components since 1995, beating the Blue Chip Indicators forecasts two-thirds of the time. David is a Certified Business Economist as recognized by the National Association for Business Economics. He has two master's degrees and is ABD in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
-
Target Limits Self-Checkout To 10 Items
Target launches new self-checkout lanes on heels of a new paid membership plan and expanded brand offerings.
By Jamie Feldman Published
-
Should You Invest in CDs? What to Consider
Before putting your money in a certificate of deposit (CD), you should know why banks issue them, how they are used and how they are priced.
By Brian Skrobonja, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) Published
-
A Spotlight on the Pacific States: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Most Pacific states are seeing good job growth in multiple sectors including tourism, hospitality, and construction.
By David Payne Published
-
The Robots Are Coming... But Not For a While
The Kiplinger Letter There’s excitement in the tech sector over the potential of humanoid robots, but widespread adoption is likely to be years away.
By John Miley Published
-
Farmers Face Another Tough Year As Costs Continue to Climb: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Farm income is expected to decline for a second year, while costs continue to up-end farm profitability.
By Matthew Housiaux Published
-
A Spotlight on the Mountain States: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Most Mountain states are seeing good job growth in multiple sectors from healthcare, energy, and semiconductor production to farming and government.
By David Payne Last updated
-
A Spotlight on the Plains States: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter The labor market is tight in the Plains states and outside of healthcare and construction most sectors are flat or down.
By David Payne Published
-
Kiplinger's Commodities Forecast
The Kiplinger Letter Following a rocky few years for markets, we expect commodities to be less volatile in 2024, as a post-pandemic normal finally emerges.
By Matthew Housiaux Published
-
Growth Stalls in China As Property Market Continues to Struggle: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter The property market remains a major drag on Chinese growth, with sales now 50% below their peak.
By Rodrigo Sermeño Published
-
A Spotlight on the South Central States: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Outside of the tech sector slump, job growth in the South Central states remains buoyant, with healthcare, construction and business investment going strong.
By David Payne Published