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The Indicator from Planet Money

Can the yield curve still predict recessions?

Oct 16, 2024
Campbell Harvey, a finance professor at Duke University renowned for his research on the inverted yield curve, delves into its predictive power regarding recessions. He examines the recent inversion of the yield curve and questions its reliability in today's strong economy, characterized by job growth and consumer spending. Harvey discusses how an inverted yield curve may influence corporate behavior and investment strategies, suggesting that while the signal might indicate caution, it could also be misleading in current market conditions.
09:08

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The inverted yield curve has accurately predicted every recession since 1969, but its reliability is now being questioned due to unusual economic conditions.
  • Heightened caution among businesses, influenced by past yield curve behavior, may mitigate recession risks despite the current yield curve inversion.

Deep dives

The Inverted Yield Curve as a Recession Indicator

The inverted yield curve has historically served as a reliable predictor of recessions, with Campbell Harvey noting its accuracy in forecasting every recession since 1969. An inverted yield curve occurs when short-term interest rates rise above long-term rates, signaling potential economic trouble ahead. In this case, the yield curve inverted approximately two years ago, which traditionally would have indicated an impending recession. However, despite this inversion and its historical precedent, the U.S. economy has yet to enter a recession, sparking debate over the ongoing reliability of the yield curve as an economic indicator.

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