Bluford Putnam

U.S. Overview: Will Recovery Prevail?

Ross DeVol, Monty Bennett, Juan Enriquez, Fred Hochberg, Judith McKenna, Bluford Putnam

A panel of economic experts analyzes the mixed signals of U.S. growth in early 2016, where weak Q1 GDP and corporate profit declines were partially offset by a resilient housing sector and significant household savings from lower gasoline prices. While stagnant wage growth and regulatory constraints like Dodd-Frank continue to dampen capital goods orders and business confidence, the consumer remains a bright spot driven by deleveraging and the incoming spending power of Millennials. Long-term prospects rely on innovation to sustain a projected 2% growth cap, with global commodity stabilization and the U.S. role as a swing producer expected to support export-driven gains in the service sector.