Did the Federal Reserve Stick the (Soft) Landing?

When Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell began increasing interest rates in early 2022, few economists predicted a resilient economic response. It wasn't a matter of "if" we would be pushed into a recession but how bad the recession would be. Nearly two years into the steepest increase in interest rates in over 40 years, can we now say we've achieved a soft landing? Or is this a delayed economic response with a 2024 recession certain to come?

The Economy Today

The employment rate remains near record highs, with 96.1% of people who want to work finding employment. This week's GDP numbers for Q3 came in at 5.2%, meaning our economy is expanding at a very healthy rate. Personal income and personal spending continue to increase at a moderate rate. Pending home sales are down year-over-year, but that's expected. The housing supply remains low as very few people want to give up their 3% mortgage for a new 7% mortgage.

What Does the Fed Want to See?

To put it bluntly, the Fed wants you to lose your job. It sounds terrible to say, and no Fed chair would ever publicly make this statement, but the more money available for people to spend, the more likely inflation will remain high. If the unemployment rate remains low (currently 3.9%) and everyone has a job, demand for goods and services will continue to increase prices.

When inflation is high, your money doesn't buy you as many things. Inflation can crumble economies; see Venezuela and Argentina. For good reason, the Fed is taking inflation very seriously and has taken drastic measures to combat an inflation rate that went from 2% to 9%. This is why you've seen one of the steepest interest rate increases in US history, successfully bringing inflation down to 3.2%. The Fed's goal is to get inflation below 3%. So, increased rate hikes are likely to pause, but they are not guaranteed.

What Does the Stock Market Want to See?

Simply put, the stock market wants to see lower interest rates. Businesses borrow money by using leverage to reinvest back into their companies. The higher the borrowing cost, the less profit from business growth. A business would much rather borrow at 2% and grow at 7% (net 5% profit) than borrow at 7% (net 0% profit). These higher rates increase the risk of a business losing money on their investment.

It's also important to note that the stock market is designed to be a forward-looking predictor of the economy. November was the best month in years for the S&P 500 index! Why? Investors are anticipating the Fed cutting interest rates within nine months. This optimism is no longer pricing in a moderate recession in 2024, which is why many economic bears believe the stock market is currently overvalued.

Has the Fed Achieved a Soft Landing?

A soft landing is when a central bank seeks to combat inflation by raising interest rates without causing a severe economic recession. As of today, 2023 has been the definition of a soft landing. Knowing what we know today about the speed at which our Fed decided to raise rates, the economy's resiliency has been surprisingly strong.

Even though we are not out of the woods yet, just like anything in life, we should celebrate our wins and congratulate those who are responsible.

So far, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell should be applauded for his decisions and results. Some may say the Federal Reserve put us in this position in 2021 when they believed inflation was transitory. Still, it's hard to argue Jerome Powell hasn't made up for those views by navigating us through these delicate economic circumstances.

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