Lara Rhame, Chief Economist at FS Investments, shares her insights on the potential for a not-so-soft landing in the economy and its ties to the 2024 election. Nancy Curtin, Partner & Global CIO at AlTi, remains bullish on the S&P 500, dissecting market fundamentals. Gautam Mukunda, a Yale lecturer, analyzes how the presidential race could impact markets. Carole Streicher from KPMG discusses the recovering M&A landscape and what trends to watch for in 2024, emphasizing the role of capital and upcoming regulatory changes.
The strong retail sales suggest economic resilience, yet there's a noted divergence with cooling employment trends and mixed labor market indicators.
Experts highlight a cautious Federal Reserve approach moving into 2025, emphasizing data dependency given the current inflation and economic landscape.
Deep dives
Economic Trends and Predictions
Recent economic indicators suggest that the economy is performing well, particularly reflected in strong retail sales. However, a divergence exists between growth data and employment trends, with the latter indicating a notable slowdown. The forecast points towards a soft landing for the economy, highlighting a likely pause in business investment and a shift in government spending. Overall, while the GDP remains robust, the labor market is showing signs of cooling, indicating an evolving economic landscape.
Federal Reserve's Strategy and Economic Data
Federal Reserve policymakers are emphasizing the importance of being data-dependent, particularly as they prepare for upcoming meetings post-election. With inflation decreasing, there's an opportunity for the Fed to adjust interest rates accordingly, potentially implementing two rate cuts in the near future. The dialogue among Fed members reveals a unanimous focus on closely monitoring economic trends and inflation data, which remains a concern. The expectation is for a cautious approach moving into 2025, as the Fed navigates this complex economic environment.
Labor Market Dynamics
Current labor market data presents a mixed picture, with hiring trends declining while layoffs remain low, indicating a two-speed labor market. Although job opportunities are cooling following the pandemic surge, initial jobless claims remain steady, suggesting stability in employment. The overall unemployment rate is expected to hold steady around 4% as hiring continues at a level sufficient to maintain employment rates. Consumer confidence, despite its recent decline, does not seem to deter strong household spending patterns.
Consumer Sentiment and Economic Outlook
Consumer confidence has experienced deterioration since the pandemic, raising concerns despite a strong labor market. Notably, spending patterns remain robust, even as consumers express uncertainty about economic conditions. The anticipation is that consumer sentiment may improve as the election approaches, potentially alleviating some of the uncertainty affecting spending behavior. While current consumer apprehension is evident, their spending habits indicate a resilience that will be crucial for economic stability.
Watch Tom and Paul LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Bloomberg Surveillance hosted by Paul Sweeney & David GuraOctober 18th, 2024 Featuring:
Lara Rhame, Chief Economist at FS Investments, discusses why she believes a soft landing might not be so soft and talks about how the 2024 election will impact markets
Nancy Curtin, Partner & Global CIO at AlTi, on remaining bullish on the S&P 500 and what she's seeing when it comes to market fundamentals
Gautam Mukunda, lecturer at Yale University, on politics & the 2024 presidential race
Carole Streicher, Americas Regional Head of Deal Advisory for KPMG, talks about the firm's findings on M&A activity in 2024 and what to expect into the new year