- Economists concerned that skyrocketing
COVID-19 case counts in the US will curb the economic recovery are ignoring the pandemic's remarkably low lethality rate,James Paulsen , chief investment strategist atThe Leuthold Group , said Friday. - The US Economic Surprise Index, which tracks economic momentum, has been more closely correlated with virus lethality than cases throughout the pandemic.
- COVID-19 lethality soared above 7% in April, leading the surprise gauge to plummet. Yet lethality now sits at roughly 1%, and the surprise gauge points to ready and robust growth.
- If the lethality rate remains relatively low, "the pace of economic growth in Q4 (and beyond) may prove much stronger and persistent" than many expect, Paulsen said.
Experts worried that soaring COVID-19 case counts will drag on US economic growth are glossing over the pandemic's all-important lethality rate, according to James Paulsen, The Leuthold Group's chief investment strategist.
The US
While the record-high case count prompted concerns about a new economic shutdown, the virus's lethality rate tells a different story, Paulsen said in a Friday note. When the US faced its first outbreaks, the lethality rate leaped to more than 7%. It's since fallen to roughly 1% and stayed there even as cases swing to new peaks.
The US Economic Surprise Index, which tracks economic momentum, tanked into the summer as the lethality rate spiked. The index subsequently rebounded as the economy reopened and business activity resumed, climbing to nearly 130 in August from -30. While the gauge trimmed gains and sits near 90, it still points to a healthy pace of recovery.
The surprise index is more closely correlated with the virus's lethality than its case count, Paulsen said. Unlike what was seen in the spring, the leap in
Should the lethality rate remain relatively low, "the pace of economic growth in Q4 (and beyond) may prove much stronger and persistent ... than many now believe possible," Paulsen said.