
David Payne
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.
Latest articles by David Payne
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Kiplinger GDP Outlook: No Recession, But Low Economic Growth
Kiplinger Forecasts In the latest Kiplinger GDP forecast, we expect modest-to-moderate growth in the second half of 2025 and through 2026.
By David Payne Last updated
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Kiplinger Interest Rates Outlook
Forecasts The odds of a Federal Reserve cut in short-term rates rose after a poor jobs report, then fell after a poor Producer Price Index report.
By David Payne Last updated
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Kiplinger Retail Outlook: Underlying Trend Obscured by Prime Day Sale
Economic Forecasts Moderate consumer spending in July got a boost from Amazon’s four-day sale event.
By David Payne Last updated
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Kiplinger Inflation Outlook: The Fed’s Quandary
Economic Forecasts Will the modest rise in services inflation prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates at its next meeting?
By David Payne Last updated
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Kiplinger Jobs Outlook: Labor Market Strength Surprises
Economic Forecasts Strong job growth in September and revisions to July and August indicate the labor market’s weakness was overstated.
By David Payne Last updated
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Kiplinger Business Costs Outlook: Spending, Costs Rise
Economic Forecasts Trade deals reduce tariff uncertainty, but lock in higher costs of imports.
By David Payne Last updated
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Can the U.S. Break China's Stranglehold on Critical Minerals?
The Letter China is using its near-monopoly on critical minerals to win trade concessions. Can the U.S. find alternate supplies?
By David Payne Published
The Letter -
Things that Surprise Business Owners When It’s Time to Sell
The Kiplinger Letter When it’s time to retire and enjoy the fruits of growing their business, owners are often surprised by how tough it is to give up their baby!
By David Payne Published
The Kiplinger Letter -
The Economic Impact of the US-China Trade War
The Letter The US-China trade war will impact US consumers and business. The decoupling process could be messy.
By David Payne Published
The Letter -
A Move Away From Free Trade
The Letter President Trump says long-term gain will be worth short-term pain, but the pain could be significant this year.
By David Payne Published
The Letter -
What To Know if You’re in the Market for a New Car This Year
The Kiplinger Letter Buying a new car will get a little easier, but don’t expect many deals.
By David Payne Published
The Kiplinger Letter -
What Could Derail the Economy This Year?
The Letter While the outlook for the U.S. economy is mostly favorable, there are plenty of risks that bear watching.
By David Payne Published
The Letter -
Three Ways President Trump Could Impact the Economy
The Letter Some of Trump's top priorities could boost economic growth, but others risk fueling inflation.
By David Payne Published
The Letter -
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
The Letter -
Aging in Place Is Big Business for Builders
The Kiplinger Letter Many people will be looking to make their homes aging-friendly in the years to come.
By David Payne Published
The Kiplinger Letter -
New Graduates Navigate a Challenging Labor Market
The Kiplinger Letter Things are getting tough for new graduates. Job offers are drying up and the jobless rate is increasing. Are internships the answer?
By David Payne Last updated
The Kiplinger Letter -
Car Prices Are Finally Coming Down
The Kiplinger Letter For the first time in years, it may be possible to snag a good deal on a new car.
By David Payne Published
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Kiplinger Special: The Long-Term Future of the U.S. Economy
The Kiplinger Letter Kiplinger's report into what it will take the U.S. to maintain a healthy economic growth rate.
By David Payne Published
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Future U.S. Economic Growth Hinges on Immigrants
The Kiplinger Letter With the native birthrate slipping, employers are increasingly relying on foreign-born workers to staff up.
By David Payne Published
The Kiplinger Letter -
Fed Rate Cuts Still on Hold
The Kiplinger Letter With inflation stubbornly elevated, the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates high for now.
By David Payne Published
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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
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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
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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
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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
The Kiplinger Letter