The yield curve has long been a reliable indicator of economic downturns, but recent events have Wall Street questioning its predictive powers. The yield curve is an economic measure that compares the yields on short-term and long-term debt instruments. When it inverts, or when short-term rates are higher than those for longer-term investments, it is often seen as a sign of a recession to come.
However, during this current recessionary period, the yield curve has not been inverted – yet many economists believe we are still in one of the worst recessions since World War II. This discrepancy between what should be happening and what is happening has left Wall Street scratching its head over whether or not it can trust this traditional gauge anymore.
It may be that other indicators need to be taken into account when trying to forecast future recessions – such as consumer spending patterns or employment levels – rather than relying solely on the traditional measure provided by the yield curve alone. It could also just mean that this particular recession doesn’t fit neatly into any existing models – something which would certainly explain why so many investors feel uneasy about trusting their predictions right now!
Read more at Axios
