‘Greed Will Come Again’: Bill Gross

Get ready for subdued economic growth in the years ahead, as fear and frugality will dominate the mindset of U.S. consumers for at least a generation, Pimco’s co-CIO Bill Gross says in his July investment outlook, posted on the firm’s website. He projects annual GDP growth rates in the U.S. of 2% a year, down from the historical 3.5%.

“Greed will come again. But for now, the trend is the other say, and it promises to persist for a generation at a minimum,” Gross said.

While American consumers have been known to have short memories, the fact is, $15 trillion of wealth has been eliminated since early 2007 and the unemployment rate is near 10%, Gross pointed out.

He writes: “Our economy’s lights, if not switched off in a rehash of the 1930s Depression, have certainly been dimmed in a 21st century version likely to be labeled the Great Recession. U.S. and many global consumers gorged themselves on Big Macs of all varieties: burgers to be sure, but also McHouses, McHummers, and McFlatscreens, all financed with excessive amounts of McCredit. What a colossal McStake.”

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