We almost never think of the present, and if we do think of it, it is only to see what light it throws on our plans for the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means, the future alone our end. Thus we never actually live, but hope to live, and since we are always planning how to be happy, it is inevitable that we should never be so. (Blaise Pascal 1670)

It is hard not to be impressed by the resiliency of the US economy and the speed of its recovery. US GDP growth clocked in at 6.4% on an annualized basis in the first quarter, while forecasts for the second quarter are between 9% and 10%. It is now almost certain that US GDP in total dollars exceeded pre-pandemic levels at the end of the second quarter. This is also true of the G-20 countries in aggregate. There is no doubt the keys to our success were the rapid development and deployment of multiple effective COVID-19 vaccines and effective countermeasures through monetary and fiscal stimulus. At the same time, companies and individuals adapted with a panoply of innovative technologies. Think Zoom, Slack and DoorDash!

While the economy is bouncing back rapidly, adjusting to new post-pandemic concerns will take longer. There remains a spirited debate among economists and market participants about the nature of current inflation – essentially, how long will it last and what effect will it have on the markets? A year ago, US inflation had fallen to 0.1% and the predominant concern was deflation. Today, inflation pressures are mounting as: consumers unleash pent-up demand on an economy still reeling from supply chain disruptions; the Fed continues to maintain a zero-interest-rate policy and large-scale monthly debt purchases; trillions in fiscal stimulus work through the economy; and soaring stock markets and real estate prices create wealth effects. A challenge for investors is to strip out the ‘base effects’ and temporary supply bottlenecks from more enduring drivers.

One of the more likely of these enduring drivers will be demography. According to a new book called The Great Demographic Reversal, aging populations in Developed Markets and China will have significant impacts on inflation and savings. The authors Charles Goodhart and Manoj Pradhan assert that prior decades saw the greatest positive labor supply shock in history principally as China and other emerging economies added enormous capacity to the world’s output. This increase kept wages in check and allowed for the long decline in real interest rates. These once favorable relationships are worsening quickly and inexorably. Adjustment to these ratios will play out slowly, but likely with less favorable outcomes – slower growth, higher interest rates and higher inflation. Perhaps the mantra should be to find happiness in the present moment.

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The views expressed represent the opinion of Veritable. The views are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and nonproprietary sources that have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While Veritable believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or have responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. Statements of future expectations, estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based on available information and Veritable’s view as of the time of these statements.

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