Cracks in the Foundations of Growth: What Will the Housing Debacle Mean for the U.S. Economy?

Dimitri Papadimitriou, Greg Hannsgen and Gennaro Zezza

Economics Public Policy Brief Archive from Levy Economics Institute

Abstract: With economic growth having cooled to 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2007, the economy can ill afford a slump in consumption by the American household. But it now appears that the household sector could finally give in to the pressures of rising gasoline prices, a weakening home market, and a large debt burden. The signals are still mixed; for example, while April’s retail sales numbers caused concern, May’s were much improved, and so was the ISM manufacturing index for June. Consumption growth indicates a slowdown. This Public Policy Brief examines the American household and its economic fortunes, concentrating on how falling home prices might hamper economic growth, generate social dislocations, and possibly lead to a full-blown financial crisis.

Date: 2007-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-pke and nep-ure
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