Bank Economists See Stronger Economic Growth in 2014

2014 will be a breakout year for the U.S. economy as private-sector demand accelerates and fiscal drag eases, according to the Economic Advisory Committee of the American Bankers Association.

According to the committee, which includes 13 chief economists from among the largest banks in North America, inflation-adjusted GDP growth for 2014 will be 3.0 percent, compared to a 2.3 percent annual average since the Great Recession ended in mid-2009 and the post-recession high of 2.8 percent in 2010.

“This will be the strongest economic growth since the expansion began in 2009, and the committee’s strongest forecast since 2005,” Christopher Low, chairman of the group and chief economist of First Horizon National Corp’s FTN Financial, said.  ”We expect faster growth in business investment and stronger job creation as the economy improves.”

The bank economists believe the housing market will continue to grow in 2014 as wages increase and the unemployment rate continues to fall.  The group sees the housing sector gaining strength as home sales recover from depressed levels. The committee forecast is that home prices nationwide will rise solidly and residential investment will increase 12.3 percent in 2014.  The strengthened housing sector will support consumer spending.

“When families get into new homes, they spend more on appliances, furniture, electronics and building materials,” Low said.

Consumers are also finding themselves on stronger financial footing in the New Year and have regained confidence. The group believes consumer spending will support economic growth over the year ahead. Automobile sales are also expected to remain strong.

“Some consumers remain cautious due to lingering high unemployment and slow wage growth,” Low said. “Many have not benefited from the resurgent stock market and personal income growth, and are carefully watching what they spend. But tax rates will rise much less in 2014, and household balance sheets are healthier than they have been in years. The consumer is the key; if people loosen up their wallets and pocketbooks, economic growth will be even stronger.”

As the recovery improves, the group believes underlying drivers of economic growth will broaden beyond housing and consumption.  Business spending and exports should also be stronger in 2014.

The committee believes the fiscal environment will be friendlier in 2014 and will exert less drag on consumers and businesses over the course of next year. The impending passage of a two-year budget agreement without big tax increases or spending cuts is a big change from 2013’s fiscal austerity, reducing economic uncertainty. The group forecasts a federal deficit of $560 billion in fiscal year 2014 (down from $680 billion in fiscal year 2013) and below $500 billion in fiscal year 2015, with higher tax receipts from a stronger economy accounting for most of the improvement.

“This year’s bipartisan budget deal will be extremely beneficial to the economy,” Low said. “For the first time since 2009, businesses and consumers can plan with much less worry about disruptive policy battles.”

After slowing in December, job growth will accelerate from near 180,000 per month last year to over 200,000 monthly in 2014, according to the bank economists.

“Faster job growth will pull the unemployment rate down to 6.4 percent by the fourth quarter,” Low said. “The Federal Reserve will continue to monitor the job market and taper asset purchases accordingly. In the meantime, watch for investors to shift focus from the Federal Reserve’s asset purchases to its guidance on rate policy.”

The committee expects the Federal Reserve to maintain a very accommodative policy stance, keeping the federal funds rate extremely low.

The bank economists forecast that consumer credit growth will pick up this year, and that delinquencies will remain at low levels both this year and next.  In 2014 and 2015, loans to individuals are expected about 7 percent and loans to businesses will grow 8 percent.

“Banks will continue to meet the needs of their customers as we work to make the loans that help drive our economy forward,” Low said.

The members of the 2014 ABA Economic Advisory Committee are:

• EAC Chairman Christopher Low, chief economist, First Horizon National Corp’s FTN Financial, New York;

• Scott A. Anderson, SVP and chief economist, Bank of the West, San Francisco, Calif.;

• Scott J. Brown, SVP and chief economist, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla.;

• Robert A. Dye, SVP and chief economist, Comerica Bank, Dallas;

• Ethan S. Harris, co-head of global economics research, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York;

• Stuart G. Hoffman, chief economist, PNC Financial Services Group, Pittsburgh;

• Peter Hooper, managing director and chief economist, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., New York;

• Nathaniel Karp, EVP and chief economist, BBVA Compass, Houston;

• Bruce C. Kasman, chief economist, JP Morgan Chase & Company, New York;

• Gregory L. Miller, SVP and chief economist, SunTrust Banks, Inc., Atlanta;

• George Mokrzan, SVP and director of economics, Huntington National Bank, Columbus, Ohio;

• Richard F. Moody, SVP and chief economist, Regions Financial Corporation, Birmingham, Ala.; and

• Carl R. Tannenbaum, SVP and chief economist, Northern Trust Corporation, Chicago

Click here for detailed EAC forecast numbers.

Click here for a two-minute video clip of EAC chairman Christopher Low’s summary of the forecast.

The American Bankers Association represents banks of all sizes and charters and is the voice for the nation’s $14 trillion banking industry and its two million employees.  Learn more at aba.com.