Looking for signs that the US is slipping into a recession in the wake of recent turmoil in the global equity markets? You won’t find a smoking gun in today’s initial August estimate of economic activity in the services sector from Markit Economics. The group’s flash data for its US Services PMI ticked down to 55.2 this month, slightly below July’s 55.7 reading. But that’s still well above the neutral 50.0 mark. The bottom line: the crucial services sector—the dominant source of employment in the US—continues to expand at a healthy if slightly slower pace, according to today’s headline PMI number.
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Stock markets around the world have tumbled in recent days, which implies that expectations for economic growth have taken a hit. But markets aren’t flawless prediction machines and so it’s debatable if the current turmoil will lead to a contraction in global output vs. slower growth. If you’re a true optimist, you may be inclined to read the latest tantrum as noise, with little if any relevance for the real economy.
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● China’s stock market tumbles again on Tuesday
● Europe’s equity markets on firmer footing after Monday’s rout
● US economic growth picks up in July via Chicago Fed Index
● China Leading Index rises in July, Conference Board reports
● Business confidence in Germany increases in August