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ComplianceCorporateFinanceLegalDecember 05, 2023|UpdatedFebruary 18, 2025

U.S. Economy Forecast: Blue Chip Economic Indicators outlook for the year ahead

Every month, Wolters Kluwer provides corporate and government decision-makers with an outlook on the performance of the U.S. economy for the year ahead. Our Blue Chip Economic Indicators report features forecasts from more than 50 top analysts of some of America's largest and most respected manufacturers, banks, insurance companies, and brokerage firms.

Since 1976, we’ve been polling business economists about their insights on U.S. economic growth, inflation, interest rates, and a host of other critical indicators of future business activity – including GDP (Gross Domestic Product), Consumer Price Index (CPI), industrial production, income, corporate profits, treasury bill rates, unemployment rates, housing starts and vehicle sales.

Blue Chip Economic Indicators is regularly cited by national media outlets, including Reuters, CNBC, MSNBC, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, The New York Times, and more.

You can learn more about, and purchase, the Blue Chip Economic Indicators report here.

Recent highlights and media references

USA Today (January 2025) "The economy grew 2.3% in the fourth quarter. What it could mean for Fed rate cuts"
USA Today (January 2025) "The Fed will likely stand pat after flurry of rate cuts. After that? It's anybody's guess."
Yahoo Finance (January 2025) "The Fed will likely stand pat after flurry of rate cuts. After that? It's anybody's guess"
MSN (January 2025) "Economy poised for a solid year in 2025. But these Trump plans could slow growth."
Equitable Growth (January 2025) "Benchmarking the U.S. economy that President Donald Trump is set to inherit"
National Mortgage News (January 2025) "Mortgage Rates Break Through 7% Ceiling, Freddie Mac Said"
Hawaii Tribune Herald (January 2025) "Lagging Japan arrivals point to slow recovery for Hawaii tourism"
Fiduciary Trust (January 2025) "2025 Market Outlook: The Red Wave Has Investors Seeing Green"
Star Advertiser (January 2025) "Lagging Japan arrivals point to slow recovery for Hawaii"
USA Today (January 2025) "Economy poised for a solid year in 2025. But these Trump plans could slow growth."
Bond Buyer (January 2025) "Outlook 2025: Tariffs, immigration cloud projections of strong economy"
Stephens (January 2025) "Viewpoint 2025 First Half"
National Mortgage News (December 2024) "Economists see election slowing Fed rate cuts through 2025"
Maui Now (December 2024) "Maui visitor arrivals lag, but metrics point to stronger construction, housing sectors"
CNBC (December 2024) "Atlanta Fed’s fourth-quarter growth forecast ticks up to 3.3%"
American Banker (December 2024) "Fed's Kugler: Immigration, productivity behind strong economy"
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas (November 2024) "U.S. Agricultural Economic Update"
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (November 2024) "Texas Employment Forecast"
Atlanta Fed (November 2024) "Atlanta Fed GDPNow Estimate for 2024: Q4"
CFO Dive (November 2024) "Economists predict above-trend economic growth in 2025: Wolters Kluwer"
National Mortgage News (November 2024) "How ending the GSE conservatorships affects mortgage rates"
Federated Hermes (November 2024) "On the eve of the election, the economy is hot"
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (October 2024) "Texas Employment Forecast"
National Mortgage News (October 2024) "How strong jobs report affected mortgage rates"
Norada Real Estate Investment (October 2024) "Texas Employment Forecast"
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (September 2024) "Texas Employment Forecast"
Federated Hermes (September 2024) "Is the Fed behind the curve?"
American Banker (September 2024) "Fed will cut rates, but question is how often and how much"
National Mortgage News (September 2024) "Fed will cut rates, but question is how often and how much"
National Mortgage News (September 2024) "Mortgage rates move as FOMC cut looms"
The Federal Reserve (September 2024) "The Treasury Tantrum of 2023"
Forbes (August 2024) "Ignore The Hype: A Targeted Approach To Economic News For Executives"
The New York Times (August 2024) "Harris' Economic Plans: The Good, The Bad and The Unecessary"
CreditUnions.com (August 2024) "Putting CECL Accounting To The Test"
USA Today (July 2024) "What is a recession? The economic concept explained. What causes and happens during one."
USA Today (July 2024) "Fed leaves key interest rate unchanged, signals possible rate cut in September"
DolarHoy (July 2024) "Unstoppable: United States GDP grew again"
The American Lawyer (July 2024) "Where (and Why) Law Firm Lateral Partner Activity Is Surging"
USA Today (July 2024) "The economy grew robust 2.8% in the second quarter. What it means for interest rates."
The White House (July 2024) "Mid-Session Review"
National Mortgage News (July 2024) "Some hopes fading for September Fed rate cut"
Federated Hermes (July 2024) "See You in September"
SeekingAlpha (June 2024) "One Down, One To Go"
MarketWatch (June 2024) "Inflation could take several years to get back to 2%, Cleveland Fed researcher says"
USA Today (June 2024) "Are the economy and job growth slowing? Not based on sales of worker uniform patches."
CFO Drive (June 2024) "Small business uncertainty rises as Fed mulls ‘higher-for-longer’ rates"
Ohio Capital Journal (June 2024) "Cleveland Fed: It could take years to meet 2% inflation target"
Federated Hermes (May 2024) "Slower Growth and Sticky Inflation"
U.S. News & World Report (May 2024) "Here’s Why Americans Are Confused and Angry About the Economy"
U.S. News & World Report (May 2024) "Leading Indicators Fall, Suggesting the Economy Is Softening"
CFO Drive (May 2024) "Inflation to slow, settling close to Fed target in 2025: Wolters Kluwer"
USA Today (April 2024) "The economy grew a disappointing 1.6% in Q1. What does it mean for interest rates?"
USA Today (April 2024) "What is a recession? The economic concept explained. What causes and happens during one."
CFO Drive (March 2024) "CEO confidence, capital spending plans rise: Business Roundtable"
U.S. News & World Report (March 2024) "Gas and Housing Prices Drive Inflation Higher in February"
USA Today (March 2024) "How soon will the Fed cut interest rates? Inflation report this week could help set timing"
USA Today (March 2024) "Americans are saving less and spending more. Could that raise the risk of recession?"
The American Lawyer (February 2024) "Has Big Law Finally Returned to a Point of Normalcy?"
USA Today (February 2024) "The Fed may wait too long to cut interest rates and spark a recession, economists say"
U.S. News & World Report (February 2024) "Inflation Retreat: Hopeful Signs Expected With Year’s First Reading"
CFO Drive (February 2024) "CEO optimism hits two-year high as inflation cools: Conference Board"
USA Today (January 2024) "Fed holds interest rates steady, hints March rate cut is unlikely despite easing inflation"
USA Today (January 2024) "The economy grew a faster than expected 3.3% late last year"
CFO Dive (January 2024) "Future of labor’s ‘Great Reset’ is murky"
USA Today (January 2024) "Take a look at your 401(k). The S&P 500 and Dow just hit record highs."
U.S. News & World Report (January 2024) "Consumers Have Turned the Corner on the Economy as Sentiment Spikes"
U.S. News & World Report (January 2024) "Economists Are Feeling More Optimistic. Will Consumers Follow Suit?"
USA Today (January 2024) "Hard road for a soft landing? Recession risks have come down but still loom in 2024"
USA Today (January 2024) "Jobs report: Employers added 216,000 jobs, unemployment held steady at 3.7%"
USA Today (January 2024) "Economic outlook for 2024 brightens amid rate cut prospects, market rally but risks remain"
USA Today (December 2023) "GDP may paint a sunny picture of the economy, but this number tells a different story"
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (December 2023) "Texas Employment Forecast"
The Economist (November 2023) "Three economic risks facing America in 2024"
USA Today (October 2023) "The economy surged 4.9% in the third quarter. But is a recession still looming?"
USA Today (October 2023) "Fed Chair Powell signals central bank could hold interest rates steady next month"
USA Today (October 2023) "Bad sign for sizzling US economy? How recent Treasury yields could spell trouble"
U.S. News and World Report (October 2023) "Wholesale Inflation Rose More Than Expected in September, Driven by Spike in Gasoline"
The New York Times (September 2023) "The Market is Stuck Until the Fed is Done"
USA Today (September 2023) "Recession in U.S. becomes increasingly less likely, but odds are highest in West, South"
U.S. News and World Report (September 2023) "Reports: Smooth, But Slow Sailing for the Economy"
CFO Dive (September 2023) "CEOs trim hiring plans"
U.S. News and World Report (September 2023) "Will the Stock Market Crash in 2023? 7 Risk Factors"
Entrepreneur (August 2023) "Are We In a Recession? How You Can Prepare"
The American Lawyer (August 2023) "In Current Market, Billing Discipline More Critical Than Ever"
The New York Times (August 2023) "The Outlook for the Economy Has Improved. And Yet."
USA Today (August 2023) "The Daily Money: Inflation edges higher as economists weigh odds of recession"

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