2022 Economic Themes
Now that 2022 has arrived, there are several economic themes worth monitoring. Specifically, our team plans to watch inflation, employment and interest rates as influential economic themes in the new year.
2022 Economic Themes | Transitory-ish
As inflation measures climbed over 2021 to levels not seen in decades, there was a rush by some to project the heightened levels would continue into the foreseeable future. Even Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently stated the term “transitory” should be retired when discussing the outlook for inflation in the United States.
2022 Economic Themes | A Tighter Job Market in 2022
Employment will be a major theme influencing investment markets in 2022. Tighter job markets have the potential to influence companies’ earnings negatively. The impact could range from increased product costs associated with lack of labor supply to increased labor costs from companies paying higher wages to attract employees.
2022 Economic Themes | Don’t Fear a Repeat of the 1970s
Forecasts for a repeat of 1970s-style surging bond yields and inflation are becoming quite common. And many more suggest a similar path although with a more muted magnitude. It is our expectation that by the end of 2022, you will hear less of these forecasts.