Goldman Sachs economist says soft landing is possible
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In a new note from Goldman Sachs, chief economist Jan Hatzius puts the likelihood of a recession in the U.S. over the next 12 months at 35% — far below some of the more dire predictions circulating.
Why it matters: While surging inflation makes the economy feel terrible and a recession seems inevitable, there are signs that a "soft landing" is still possible. It's a "narrow path," Hatzius writes.
One reason: Wages. Yes, most of us are out there lamenting that wage growth isn't keeping up with inflation. But when it comes to a soft landing, your slowly eroding paycheck is a good sign:
- "The most encouraging recent step on the narrow path to a soft landing has been the slowdown in nominal wage growth," Hatzius writes.
- He points to a few data sets, including Goldman's own aggregated business survey data on actual or expected wage changes, which has fallen from 5.5% wage growth to around 4% now.
- The Employment Cost Index also turned over in the third quarter after two years of steady increases.
Also: Hatzius notes that GDP growth is slowing and the labor market is moderating in terms of fewer job openings and a falling quits rate.
- To be sure, the labor market is still quite strong. He calls this a "modest loosening."
- Asking rent prices are also slowing, according to private market data, as Hatzius notes. But that decline will take a while to show up in the official inflation numbers, as Fed chair Jerome Powell said last week.
- "[T]here will come a point at which rent inflation will start to come down. But that point is well out from where we are now," Powell said.
Yes, but: No one really knows anything. "[T[he Fed is tightening aggressively, and we live in an exceptionally uncertain world in terms of both US politics and geopolitics," Hatzius writes.
What to watch: The Consumer Price Index report for October comes out Thursday.
Bonus Chart: Employment costs turned over
