Overview
- The Leading Economic Index, a reliable recession predictor, has ceased signaling a recession for the first time since 2022, marking a potential shift in economic forecasts.
- Despite the positive shift, the index has fallen for 23 consecutive months, reaching its lowest level since April 2020, reflecting ongoing economic challenges.
- Six out of ten components of the index showed positive trends, contributing to the revised outlook that no longer anticipates a recession.
- High-profile investors and economists had previously warned of a recession based on the index's prolonged decline, highlighting the significance of its recent change in trajectory.
- While the recession warning has been lifted, real GDP growth is expected to stall to near zero in the second and third quarters of 2024, indicating a slow economic recovery.