Join Srini Ramaswamy, Head of Global Rates Derivatives Strategy at J.P. Morgan, and Teresa Ho, Head of US Short Duration Strategy, as they dissect the 2025 US fixed income landscape. They predict a mild economic slowdown with a 2% GDP growth and discuss upcoming fiscal policy changes, including treasury market responses. The duo explores the stability of money market funds amid Fed easing and delves into the intricacies of inflation and bond yields, offering insights into volatility and strategic investment positioning.
The U.S. economy is projected to experience a mild slowdown with GDP growth decreasing to around 2% and a slight rise in unemployment rates to 4.5%.
Anticipated Treasury yield declines in 2025 are linked to a shallow easing cycle by the Fed, creating advantages for long-duration treasuries amid changing supply dynamics.
Deep dives
Gentle Slowdown in the U.S. Economy
The U.S. economy is expected to experience a gentle slowdown as we approach 2025, with GDP growth projected to decline to approximately 2%. Unemployment rates may rise slightly to around 4.5%, reflecting a mild uptick in labor challenges. Additionally, core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation is anticipated to decrease to about 2.3%. This outlook suggests that while the economy is evolving through the business cycle, it remains fundamentally stable, creating an environment conducive to modest Federal Reserve easing actions.
Treasury Yields and Curve Dynamics
Treasury yields are forecasted to decline as the Fed engages in a shallow easing cycle in 2025, with the outlook titled, 'How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Higher Yields.' Historical analogs indicate that during similar limited easing periods, like in the mid-90s, the long end of the yield curve typically steepens. Given the anticipated macro conditions, there is an expectation for front-end rates to fall while longer-term yields stabilize due to increasing term premium dynamics. The current setup suggests advantages for holding long-duration treasuries, particularly as markets adjust to changes in demand.
Treasury Supply Outlook
The net issuance of Treasuries is expected to remain stable at around $2.1 trillion in 2025, although larger deficits loom in fiscal years ahead. A significant gap in funding needs is anticipated as budget deficits could exceed $2 trillion annually beginning in fiscal 2026. This will necessitate larger auction sizes in the future, but for now, the Treasury is well funded enough to maintain current practices. However, the eventual adjustment towards more issuance will keep market participants focused on future supply dynamics.
Implications for Money Markets and Inflation Swaps
The outlook for money market funds remains positive, with assets under management expected to stay around $7 trillion as investors seek stability amid the easing cycle. Historical trends suggest cash usually does not flow out of money funds until the Fed's easing progresses significantly. In terms of inflation, break-evens are projected to stabilize, reflecting gradual decreases in inflation readings, with potential tariff impacts posing some upside risks. Nevertheless, specific segments of the inflation curve may see valuable opportunities for investment, particularly at the front end, amid evolving economic conditions.