No matter who wins, COVID-19 will be in the Oval Office
Since its earliest days, the cornerstone of Donald Trump’s presidency and his administration’s argument for re-election has been the strength of the economy. Talk of an inverted yield curve and a potential recession was often negated by the power of other economic indicators, such as low unemployment numbers. This strength was not only great on the home front but it also economically emboldened the U.S. internationally, especially when compared with European nations.
This fact wasn’t lost on many of the CRE industry’s top players. In two Q1 reports from early 2020 (the National Investor Sentiment Report and the Real Estate Roundtable’s 2020 Q1 Economic Sentiment Index), executives, lenders, investors, and brokers remained optimistic for 2020.
Even with a Presidential election on the horizon, both reports indicated a pre-election surge in investments to make money work, followed by a wait-and-see approach for the post-election cycle. It was all nothing out of the ordinary, given the data available.
COVID-19, 2020, and the election
Then, COVID-19 arrived and turned these predictions and expectations upside down. While it’s a maxim that investors are afraid of the unknown—a big reason for the wait-and-see approach—the virus has single-handedly presented this country, its economy, and its politics a big, heaping bowl of unknown and instability. The longer it lingers, the more likely it is that COVID-19 will be a presence during and after the campaign. And, no matter who wins, the virus is sure to be front-and-center in the Oval Office.
For the United States, the numbers, as of this writing, are not good. The country leads the world in cases (more than a million) and deaths (topping American casualties suffered in the Vietnam War). At the same time, economic stimulus packages expanded the national debt to new heights, tens of millions of Americans filed for unemployment benefits, and countless small businesses were left in loopholes as funds in the Paycheck Protection Program were swallowed up by large corporations.
As the stock market lost the gains made in recent years, debates raged about how and when states should re-open for business while combatting fears of lack of virus data and predictions of a second wave of infection.
Overseeing all of this is a White House that has swung from mentions of “total authority” to “no responsibility.” According to a recent NBC News/Commonwealth Fund poll, 53% of respondents had little or no trust in Trump providing information about the pandemic—though a significant minority of respondents do (at least, “somewhat”). COVID-19, it seems, is running the show on its own terms.
Recession is the only certainty
About the only thing that is certain in these uncertain times is that the long-predicted recession is rapidly approaching and will most likely remain for some time. A “normal” recession is often described as an economic correction—two consecutive quarters of economic contraction that follow a period of growth. As companies face financial struggles, lay-offs follow, and new jobs are not created. This then trickles over to consumers who choose to save money and spend less.
The COVID-19 recession, though, is different—primarily because it occurred suddenly and rapidly on a global scale. Despite efforts by the Fed to lower interest rates, the enormity of the crisis was apparent by the end of Q1. Q2 is already stacking up to be another economic train wreck—and that would signal the official start of the COVID-19 recession.
Predicting the path of the recession is anyone’s guess since this is unlike anything most Americans have ever witnessed. Managing the downturn will depend significantly on managing the quarantine. A strong effort in the latter aspect can mean a quicker end to the first; any missteps, though, could mean a more prolonged recession (or worse).
Election 2020
The 2020 race may be the year when many of us say, “Once upon a time, our only concerns about a Presidential election were cultural and social issues, foreign policy, tax codes, trade policies, and cap rates.” COVID-19 has forced Americans to look at the race through personal and national health lenses, rather than strictly a political one. Expect all candidates to present plans to not only manage the virus but also to rebuild the economy and attempt to address the personal situations of constituents.
As of yet, it’s too early to tell what those plans will be—or even how a recovery will look. Some models indicate a V-shaped recovery, while others look like a U, W, and an L. These last three all involve serious economic scars and a lingering malaise. No matter the model, though, the key for investors is always to be proactive, prepared, and agile. At Morris Southeast Group, we are holding firm to the belief that we will emerge from this crisis stronger, and that we must rely on each other to achieve this goal. To that end, we are here for you. To learn more about what Morris Southeast Group can do for you, now and in the months leading up to the election, call us at 954.474.1776. You can also reach Ken Morris directly at 954.240.4400 or via email at kenmorris@morrissegroup.com.
Tags: COVID-19, crisis stronger, Economic Sentiment Index, small businesses
