US Economics Analyst: 2024 US Economic Outlook: Final Descent

The US economy defied recession fears in 2023 and made substantial progress toward a soft landing. The key surprise has been much stronger than expected GDP growth, though this has not prevented the labor market from continuing to rebalance or inflation from continuing to fall. Goldman Sachs Research expects GDP to grow 1.8% in 2024 on a Q4/Q4 basis (or 2.1% on a full-year basis), again easily beating low consensus expectations. Our economists forecast just under 2% consumption growth, with real disposable income growth of nearly 3% partly offset by a 1pp rise in the saving rate and expect the FOMC to deliver its first rate cut in 2024Q4 once core PCE inflation falls below 2.5%.