• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Editor's Pick Bank of America CEO says U.S. consumers and businesses have turned cautious on spending
Editor's Pick

Bank of America CEO says U.S. consumers and businesses have turned cautious on spending

by May 31, 2024
by May 31, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

U.S. consumers and businesses alike have turned cautious about spending this year because of elevated inflation and interest rates, according to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan.

Whether it’s households or small- to medium-sized businesses, Bank of America clients are slowing down the rate of purchases made for everything from hard goods to software, Moynihan said Thursday at a financial conference held in New York.

Consumer spending via card payments, checks and ATM withdrawals has grown about 3.5% this year to roughly $4 trillion, Moynihan said. That’s a sharp slowdown from the nearly 10% growth rate seen in May 2023, he said.

“Both of our customer bases that have a lot to do with how the American economy runs are saying, ‘You know what? I’m being careful, slowing things down,’” Moynihan said, referring to consumers and businesses.

The slowdown began last summer and is consistent with the “very low growth” environment of the period from 2016 through 2018, he said.

Nearly a year after the last Federal Reserve rate increase, consumers and businesses are wrestling with inflation and borrowing costs that remain higher than they are accustomed to. The Fed began efforts to tame inflation by hiking its benchmark rate starting in March 2022, hoping it could slow the economy without tipping it into recession.

Many economists believe the Fed is on track to pull off that feat, which has helped the stock market reach new highs this year. But consumers are still grappling with higher prices for goods and services, and that has impacted U.S. companies from McDonald’s to discount retailers as Americans adjust their behavior.

Food shoppers are hitting up more store locations in search of deals, according to Moynihan. “They’re going to three grocery stores instead of two, is one of the stats we see,” he said.

The now-tepid growth in overall spending is being propped up by travel and entertainment, while “other things have moderated, except for insurance payments,” Moynihan said. Growth in rent payments has slowed, he noted.

“We’ve got to keep the consumer in the game in the U.S. economy, because [they’re] such a big part of it,” Moynihan said. “They’re getting a little more tenuous, and that is due to everything going on around them.”

The same is true for small- and medium-sized businesses, the Bank of America CEO said. His company is the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, after JPMorgan Chase. Moynihan and other bank CEOs have a bird’s-eye view of the economy, given their coast-to-coast coverage of households and companies.

Business owners are saying, ”‘I still feel good about my overall business, but I’m not hiring as much. I’m not buying equipment as fast. I’m not making software purchases as fast,’” Moynihan said.

The bank’s economists believe that inflation will take until the end of next year to get under control and that the Fed will begin cutting interest rates later this year, Moynihan said. The U.S. economy will probably grow at around a 2% level, avoiding recession, he added.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Weeks before DeSantis takeover, Disney gave itself new powers over special Orlando district, document shows
  • ESPN is launching a sportsbook for online gambling
  • Private payroll growth slowed to 122,000 in July, less than expected, ADP says
  • Payrolls soared by 336,000 in September, defying expectations for a hiring slowdown
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Orange juice prices are going through the roof — forcing some makers to consider alternative fruits
next post
Textbook Double Top on Silver (SLV)

You may also like

Target blamed theft and violence for 9 store closures. Crime...

December 21, 2023

Walgreens to close 1,200 stores over the next three years

October 15, 2024

FTC bans fake online reviews, inflated social media influence; rule...

August 15, 2024

Tesla will lay off more than 10% of global workforce

April 17, 2024

S&P 500 hits all-time high, surpassing previous record set in...

January 20, 2024

This small Missouri city could cash in on the eclipse....

April 8, 2024

Are fears of a shoplifting surge running away from the...

November 13, 2023

Why are frozen vegetable prices so high? Blame war, immigration...

July 22, 2023

Ford to spend $3 billion to expand large truck production...

July 18, 2024

Fox could likely survive a nine-figure loss to Dominion, media...

April 18, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • The Unpredictable Stock Market: How to Make Sense of It

      May 8, 2025
    • AMD CEO calls China a ‘large opportunity’ and warns against strict U.S. chip controls

      May 7, 2025
    • NBA star Russell Westbrook launches AI-enabled funeral planning startup

      May 7, 2025
    • Use This Multi-Timeframe MACD Signal for Precision Trades

      May 7, 2025
    • Judge allows lawsuit over Burger King’s Whopper ads to move forward

      May 7, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,630 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,339 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,320 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,302 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,185 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,064)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,529)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • The Unpredictable Stock Market: How to Make Sense of It

      May 8, 2025
    • AMD CEO calls China a ‘large opportunity’ and warns against...

      May 7, 2025
    • NBA star Russell Westbrook launches AI-enabled funeral planning startup

      May 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,064)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,529)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Burning rubber: How auto insurance prices...

    April 11, 2024

    Weekly mortgage refinance demand rose 5%...

    May 10, 2024

    Sierra Wireless Announces New 5G LPWA...

    February 21, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here