China’s Economic Data Hints at What the U.S. Can Expect from Coronavirus

Coronavirus fears have escalated in the United States, with global conferences and international travel being canceled and consumers stocking up on bleach and disinfectants. As March begins, every economic data release will be scrutinized for signs of weakness. At the same time, China, the origin of the contagion, appears to be slowly normalizing after weeks of shuttered factories and locked down cities. This dynamic of economic deterioration in the United States as China embarks on a recovery is likely to maintain a confusing environment for investors for the foreseeable future.

But the United States also has a unique opportunity: because China has been going through the exact same crisis since January, we can look at the trajectory of their experience and think about what it could mean for us.