Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

What are the economic indicators showing we're about to have another depression?


No "economic" indicators such as government statistics per se.

The supply chain looks ready to collapse, along with public confidence in all of our institutions. History doesn't repeat, but it sure is rhyming, quite loudly right now.

There are many many months of rent and utility bills that haven't been paid. Due to the massive shift to remote work, commercial office space is likely to experience a 50% or more occupancy drop (maybe even worse?). Our large urban centers have a funding model that is suddenly unsustainable if this happens.

Everything to me, at least, is screaming danger, danger Will Robinson.


Great Depression as ALL about deflation, we see inflation right now. Which will be painful, but since all countries are seeing inflation its likely just driven by costs in production.

If we huge inflation, then all these expensive mortgages people stretched for the last few years will be super cheap, so all of a sudden majority of Americans will be out of debt, for example.

All those empty commercial properties instead of foreclosing will simply rent home out for "low rent" purposes like gyms, but that low rent in inflated terms will cover the cost of their lease/mortgage.

It could be messy, and will need support from many players, but I don't think we are looking at a Greater Depression.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: