U.S. Economy to Perk Up in Second Half
Consumers are recovering from a swoon induced by a wobbly stock market. But energy, other sectors will continue to struggle.
Look for the U.S. economy to pick up the pace a bit from its third super-slow first quarter in three years.
But many folks may not feel much of a lift, especially those in the hard-pressed energy sector, export businesses and many lines of manufacturing, which will continue to struggle in the coming months.
We now expect GDP growth of just around 2% for 2016, in light of the meek 0.5% advance in the first quarter. That’s not much to write home about, and will make the economy seem ho-hum overall.The second quarter is showing signs of life, not unlike in the previous two years, when GDP rebounded after dismal first quarters. Look for second-quarter GDP to rise by at least 2%, but most growth will come in the second half of the year, when economic activity will likely accelerate by 3%.
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.
What will propel the economy going forward? Consumers will play a big role, spending more after going many months paying down various debts and hiking their savings rate. Consumers, of course, account for about 70% of spending. The stock sell-off this winter also caused folks to keep a tight hold on their wallets in the first quarter of 2016 — a temporary factor.
The use of credit cards is on the rise, an early sign of spending picking up. Jobs and wages are also heading in the right direction, helping to hike growth in disposable income. The recovering stock market and rising homeowner’s equity (household net worth is over six times disposable income) also make many consumers feel more flush. Scores of businesses should see sales improve as people open their wallets and banks start lending more to borrowers, including firms looking to expand. Housing, in particular, is in for a solid year, namely in the South and West. Moreover, rising home sales spawn sales of furniture, yard tools and much more. Leisure and hospitality businesses will also see budding strength, and government spending will also provide a boost to economic growth.
But the economy still faces plenty of headwinds. Though oil prices are up from their lows, it will be 2017 before the energy sector begins to stir again. And the dollar, which will remain relatively strong this year, continues to be a thorn in the side of myriad companies that make and export products for sale abroad.
Business spending will climb just 4% or so as firms keep their powder dry while waiting for sales and economic growth to perk up more in the months ahead. The inventory overhang isn’t gone completely…many auto dealers, for example, have too many vehicles on their lots and will try incentives to move them. But inventories overall are finally being whittled down, a positive for the economy.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
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.
-
RH Fell Short on Earnings But Its Stock Is Up. Here's Why
RH stock is one of the biggest percentage gainers Friday as the home improvement retailer's upbeat outlook offsets an earnings miss.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Is Costco Stock Still a Buy After Earnings?
Costco stock is slightly higher Friday after the warehouse club beat expectations for its fiscal first quarter. Here's what Wall Street has to say.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Don't Sleep on Japan's Economic Transformation
The Letter After almost three lost decades, Japan — one of the world's biggest economies — is finally showing signs of life.
By Rodrigo Sermeño Published
-
Kiplinger Outlook: Telecom Companies Brace for Tough Times
The Letter The telecom industry is entering a new era that threatens profitability. But the coming Trump administration will make it easier for the major players to adjust.
By John Miley Published
-
Start-ups Trying to (Profitably) Solve the World’s Hardest Problems
The Letter More investors are interested in companies working on breakthrough science to tackle huge societal challenges. The field of deep tech has major tailwinds, too.
By John Miley Published
-
The Big Questions for AR’s Future
The Letter As Meta shows off a flashy AR prototype, Microsoft quietly stops supporting its own AR headset. The two companies highlight the promise and peril of AR.
By John Miley Published
-
China's Economy Faces Darkening Outlook
The Letter What the slowdown in China means for U.S. businesses.
By Rodrigo Sermeño Published
-
AI Start-ups Keep Scoring Huge Sums
The Kiplinger Letter Investors continue to make bigger bets on artificial intelligence start-ups, even for small teams with no revenue. Some backers think a startling tech breakthrough is near.
By John Miley Published
-
Should We Worry About the Slowing U.S. Economy
The Letter With the labor market cooling off and financial markets turning jittery, just how healthy is the economy right now?
By David Payne Published
-
New Phones Get All the Hype, but Consumers Still Love Old Models
The Letter Even as flashy artificial intelligence features drive sales of new smartphones, used phones continue to fetch big bucks as demand outstrips supply.
By John Miley Published