Country Report USA 2020

The economic expansion is losing steam 

An ongoing slowdown across investment, government consumption and exports increases the dependence on further robust private consumption growth. Several downside risks could accelerate the economic slowdown in 2020.

A marked downturn in investment growth expected

In 2020, the prospect for further fiscal stimulatory spending is limited by other political priorities amid the impeachment inquiry and challenges to cross-party policymaking in the run-up to the 2020 elections. At the same time, an industrial production downturn and trade-related uncertainty have impacted investment growth. Despite the recent “phase one” trade deal between the US and China the business environment will remain weak, as the surface-level agreement fails to offer significant clarity on future trade policy. 

Business investments contracted in Q2 and Q3 of 2019, and no substantial rebound is expected in 2020. Corporate profits have been squeezed by rising import prices due to higher tariffs, increased labour costs, and lower external demand. US exports are affected by the ongoing trade uncertainty, lower demand in key export markets including China and the Eurozone, a global slowdown in manufacturing and the competitive disadvantage of a strong USD for US exporters.

Consumer spending remains robust for the time being

Private consumption accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity and has steadily increased over the past years, averaging 1.9% year-on-year growth since 2016. While the 2020 outlook for private consumption is less buoyant only a gradual slowdown is expected, as low unemployment, continued wage growth (although lower than in the past two years) and still modest inflation are sustaining further growth. The recent “Phase One” trade agreement between the US and China should also support household consumption growth, as looming tariffs on consumer goods were scrapped for the time being. The resilience of private consumption is sustained by the fact that household finances are in much better shape than in the lead-up to the 2008 credit crisis. US households have been deleveraging, decreasing household debt as a percentage of GDP to 75% from nearly 100%. Personal saving rates have increased substantially, from 3% in the mid-2000s to about 8% in 2019.

Given low inflation expectations, the Federal Reserve has cut the benchmark interest rate several times since July 2019. These rate cuts are largely perceived as an ‘insurance policy’ for the US economy against the global slowdown and should help to sustain private consumption growth.

Substantial downside risks could lead to a recession

The forecast economic slowdown in 2020 remains susceptible to downside risks. In absence of substantial growth contribution from investments and exports, any shock that would trigger a major deterioration of household consumption growth could send the US economy into a recession. One spark could be a stock market crash, triggered by Sino-US competition to dominate the high-tech industry. An oil price spike would also be a direct blow to US consumers as energy and fuel prices would increase. As the incumbent administration’s trade policy stance remains highly uncertain, serious trade disputes with Mexico and/or the EU would significantly strain US manufacturers.