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'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO

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U.S. economy

U.S. Economic Growth Expected to Slow Sharply in 2019

By
Erik Sherman
Erik Sherman
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By
Erik Sherman
Erik Sherman
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 19, 2019, 9:20 AM ET

Chief financial officers and even average U.S. citizens have been bracing themselves for a recession, either this year or next.

American executives and investment experts have been more sanguine in surveys, typically discounting the possibility of a significant downturn. And, technically, as a recession means sustained negative economic growth, they still are, according to a new CNBC poll of economists and people in the equities and fixed income industries.

But the 43 respondents offered an average expected real GDP gown of 2.3%, factoring in inflation, which is down from the actual 3.1% year-over-year growth seen at the end of 2018’s last quarter. The projection is also down from a January poll that put growth at 2.44%. The poll also suggests that growth will drop below 2% by 2020.

The biggest two drivers for the lowered expectations are slower global growth and tariffs put into place by Donald Trump.

If Trump wants to be a two-term president, he needs to make a China trade deal and start lowering tariffs across the board,” Hank Smith, co-chief investment officer at Haverford Trust Company, said to CNBC. “This will cause business confidence to rise and capital spending to increase, stimulating the economy.”

When that might happen is a question. Trump has floated the idea of walking away from a deal with China if it isn’t to his liking.

A potential economic slowdown could convince the Federal Reserve to put off another interest rate hike, according to the poll. In January, 78% of respondents expected a rate hike sometime this year. That is down to 60% now.

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By Erik Sherman
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