The Bond Market Sees a Recession In the Oil Shock
The message from the drop in yields is that the economy isn’t strong enough to withstand the record jump in prices for energy and other commodities.
Oil is wrecking havoc with the economy.
Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images North AmericaWhenever oil prices shoot higher, there’s a debate among economists about whether it will spark faster inflation or act as a drag on economic growth. There’s no definitive answer because it all depends on the economic backdrop at the time when crude is rising. At this moment, with West Texas Intermediate having surged to $115 a barrel, the highest since 2008, the answer seems clear -- at least if you put any weight in the collective wisdom of bond market. The oil shock of 2022 is decidedly deflationary over the longer term with the real risk of a recession.
The world changed last week as Russia stepped up its invasion of Ukraine, leading the U.S., European nations and their allies to impose increasingly stiff financial sanctions. Although western leaders were initially loath to ban purchases of oil, aluminum and other commodities from Russia on concern such a move would inflict significant financial pain on their own citizens, by the end of the week it seemed increasingly likely that U.S. and European nations would take those steps.