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The United States is showing resiliency and strength compared with other leading economies worldwide. The impact of the covid-19 forced shutdown crisis is lower in the United States than in Japan, Germany, France, the average of the European Union 27, and the euro area countries.
The recovery is also stronger and more sustainable. This does not mean that the economic impact is small. Recession is severe and its impact on jobs and growth cannot be underestimated, but it is important to show how other economies with larger government spending plans and important entitlement programs are showing a much weaker performance.
The second quarter GDP was much better than in the euro area (–9.5 percent quarterly compared to –12.1 percent in the eurozone), although it reflects a notable quarterly drop, and well below the one seen in 2008.
This comparison is important because most mainstream economists believe that higher government spending and public sector help offset the blow of a recession. They do not. The United States quarterly GDP fall, at –9.5 percent, is small compared to Germany’s –10.1 percent, France’s –13.8 percent, Italy’s –12.4 percent, Spain’s –18.5 percent and the European Union 27’s at –11.9 percent.
You may have read about the quarterly annualized –32.9 percent figure for the United States, but it is misleading to compare it with the European published figures, which are not annualized. The annualized rate estimates how much the economy would grow or shrink if the rate of change seen in the quarter continued for four consecutive quarters. If we compared apples to apples, the quarterly annualized GDP collapse would be from –40 percent in Germany to –55 percent in Spain compared to the US’s –32.9 percent.
In any case, it seems relevant to insist on three points: 1) the United States GDP decline was smaller than consensus estimates; 2) it is notably lower than the eurozone figure, which was worse than consensus expected; and 3) the advanced US data points to one of the strongest recoveries in the world.
The improvement in domestic demand that we already began to observe in the month of May has been confirmed in June. Retail sales registered an increase of 7.5 percent per month, the second-highest number in the historical series after the May data, and this time with a less relevant “base effect.” In year-on-year terms, retail sales have already grown 1.1 percent and, eliminating vehicle sales, this increase amounts to 7.3 percent year on year. Still a lot to improve, though.
Advanced and leading indicators in the United States point to a third quarter GDP rise of 18 to 20 percent in annualized terms, a recovery of more than half of the decline in first half of the year in three months.
There is a lot to do and no one can be complacent. If consumption and investment progress within potential, the US economy could close the year at flat growth and 6 percent unemployment in the most optimistic scenario. However, it is more likely that the economy will end the year down 5 percent and with unemployment at 8.5 percent, all according to our estimates. This compares with a eurozone that may likely fall more than 9 percent in 2020, with official unemployment and furloughed jobs reaching an average of 12.5 percent according to Bloomberg.
There are important warning signs to consider. Consumer confidence continues weak at 73.2 basis points in July 2020, a decrease of 5 points compared to June of this year and far from the levels above 100 seen during the month of February.
Leading indicators are encouraging but not optimistic. The composite purchasing managers index (PMI) for the month of July has managed to reach the economic expansion zone at 50. The main engine continues to be industry, at 51.3 compared to 49.8 in June, reflecting a positive evolution into expansion but with numerous challenges ahead, including investment and hiring plans. Services, a critical sector for the United States economy, remains in contraction.
United States industrial production has had two months with positive monthly growth (5.4 percent in June), although low year on year (–10.8 percent in June 2020).
Employment is improving, but admittedly at a slower pace than would be desired. Jobless claims remain stubbornly above 1 million, and continuing jobless claims are falling at a slower pace than expected. Still, continuing jobless claims have fallen from a record 25 million to 17 million in two months. These need to fall faster, and decisive supply-side measures are needed to attract new jobs and investment.
Debt in the United States is a big challenge, but—again—metrics show a better situation than in the eurozone. The accumulated deficit through June already exceeds $2.74 trillion, more than 10 percent of US GDP. Interestingly, debt to GDP in the United States is likely to rise to 98.5 percent according to Bloomberg consensus, but not even close to the levels of the euro area, at 103 percent according to the European Central Bank (ECB).
These figures contradict the calls for a stronger euro vs. the US dollar. Despite the headline-grabbing US figures, growth, debt, and employment are likely to show a better evolution than in the euro area, and monetary metrics also show a stronger situation. The ECB already has negative real rates and its balance sheet exceeds 53 percent of GDP compared to the 33 percent of GDP of the Federal Reserve balance sheet. Global demand for the US dollar is high and rising, and the world still has a dollar shortage. That is not the case of the euro, for which demand is stable but much smaller according to the Bank of International Settlements, and supply is rising much faster than that of the US dollar.
A stable and solid recovery will only be achieved with the right policies. Copying the European Union will only lead the United States to stagnation. The poor performance of the European economies in this crisis is also a reminder of why the United States should not implement similar policies.
If the United States government decides to raise taxes and increase intervention, the recovery will be slower and more painful than it already is.
