Inflation came down a lot faster than most investors and analysts anticipated, reaching 3% in June. The recession that most analysts predicted is nowhere to be seen, according to the 3.6% unemployment rate nearing a 50-year low and the S&P 500 Index showing a 19% gain year-to-date.
While the current market performance may lead investors to believe that a recession has been avoided, there are three metrics that have been able to consistently predict recessions over time. These leading economic indicators are key economic variables that tend to move ahead of changes in overall economic activity, providing an early warning system for changes in the business cycle. Let’s dig into three of these indicators and explain how investors can interpret them.