2023: A Year of Economic Turbulence

OPINION

As 2023 draws to a close, we are presented with an opportune moment to reflect on a year marked by economic resilience and a transformation of our economic environment that has not been seen for decades. We continue to push through the complex circumstances presented by the post-COVID recovery, remaining inflation, and the aggressive array of official interest rate increases during 2023.

Just as we see signs that the fight against global inflation may have finally resolved during an astounding year of economic resilience, there remains the threat of a new set of black swan events lurking in the shadows. We could very well see both global and local economic indicators deteriorating well into 2024. In addition, there remains the major threat of a disruption to global trade due to the Houthi militants’ interference in the Suez Canal.

Undoubtedly, the pace of the economic slowdown hastened in the September quarter with unemployment rising, and GDP only barely increasing by 0.2%, falling short of the anticipated 0.5%. If adjusted for immigration, Australia is officially in a per capita recession.

Australia’s record net migration of 2.5% for the 2023 calendar year undoubtedly enabled our economy to remain resilient, while also presenting itself as a potential medium to long-term nuisance. Migration helps ease some of the pressure we are currently experiencing in our tight labour market and leads to higher aggregate demand. However, it also places additional inflationary pressure on housing and rent.

Monetary Policy Outlook

The RBA’s approach to monetary policy has been a topic of much debate, with a very direct transmission channel to mortgage holders in Australia, where there is also higher household leverage. Higher rates end up being passed onto renters and mortgage holders, who comprise roughly 70% of the market. This illustrates the blunt aspect of monetary policy and how it disproportionately impacts certain groups, such as young, lower-income mortgagors trying to support their family. On the other hand, self-funded retirees are a group that is generally well-placed in a rising interest rate environment.

The RBA’s cautious stance, including the decision to keep the cash rate on hold in December, was a response to the evolving economic situation and clear signs of the economy cooling, including slower GDP growth, lower inflation, and higher unemployment.

Many economists now predict that in 2024, during the 4^th quarter, interest rates will begin to be reduced. The question is what the neutral cash rate is estimated to be – somewhere between 2.75% and 3.75% – where the rate neither increases nor decreases inflationary pressure.

Labour Market and Unemployment

A significant aspect of 2023 was the labour market beginning to loosen as consumer spending softened. The unemployment rate in Australia rose to 3.9% in November, indicating a clear upward trend. This was coupled with an increased underemployment trend which is expected to continue throughout 2024.

While the RBA’s primary mandate is to manage inflation, it also has a key role in achieving full employment. There is a concept relating to a neutral unemployment rate, where any further increase has an inflationary impact on the economy. This is referred to as the Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment (NAIRU) and is often referred to in the RBA’s statements. They believe that Australia’s natural rate of unemployment should be 4.5%. Moving closer to this rate allows us to see improvements in productivity whilst not incurring significant inflationary pressure or economic weakening. Indeed, such low unemployment during the year has made our economy extraordinarily resilient in the face of adversity.

As the unemployment rate gets closer to the target of 4.5%, it often impels the RBA to cut the official cash rate.

Household and Household Income

The increase in average mortgage rates and the strain on household budgets were notable over the past year. Real household disposable income declined significantly. Interest paid on housing debt and income tax payable increased substantially, further stressing household finances. Despite these adversities, we have witnessed an extraordinary recovery in property prices during the year, which has been rather counterintuitive from a pure economic standpoint.

The rationale behind this can be explained by the decade-long chronic shortage of housing supply, combined with high net migration. This reinforces the unrelenting nature of housing demand in Australia. It is also a testament to how families will continue to make sacrifices to enable them to live in their property and avoid renting. As the housing crisis worsens, there is a realisation that residential property is not merely an asset class for investment, but also an essential piece of infrastructure for which all levels of government are responsible to deliver sufficient supply. However, we must remember: there is no immediate or quick fix.

Private Credit’s Role

Private credit, especially secured lending, becomes even more crucial in this uncertain and tumultuous environment. Traditional banks, facing an uncertain economic climate, become more cautious, paving the way for firms like Msquared Capital to provide essential credit to SMEs.

For us at Msquared Capital, our daily interactions with borrowers ensures we are always there to witness and respond to ever-changing conditions. We can see dislocations within the lending market and that is what enables us to find the best risk-rated returns for our investors.

Secured private credit is in high demand as investors navigate uncertain times and move away from riskier assets in which the downside risk is the absolute loss of capital following from heightened market volatility. Investors are seeking a safe haven that provides steady and reliable income, all while being secured by real assets – that is, property – with asset preservation qualities.

Many investors are only now beginning to discover private credit and its benefits. At Msquared Capital we see that there is still a lack of understanding and awareness on the difference between private credit providers and their offerings. Another crucial point to remember is that not all debt, nor fund managers, are the same or of equal quality.

Looking Ahead

2023 was a year of economic turbulence, characterised by slowing growth, a shifting labour market, and evolving monetary policy. For Msquared Capital, this environment necessitates adaptive strategies to navigate the changing landscape. As we look forward to 2024, we remain committed to providing innovative and secure credit solutions, while being mindful of the broader economic context and its implications for our clients and investments.

In our view the RBA will likely continue its inflation-fighting rhetoric, but the need for further rate rises seems to have dissipated given rising unemployment and falling GDP per capita. It is highly unlikely that there will be significant property appreciation in the short-term unless interest rates are reduced more aggressively than anticipated. In addition, some property segments, such as holiday houses, regional areas, and commercial office space, have more inherent downside risk.

Overall, Australia is once again the ‘lucky country’, having been much more resilient than our peers. This is a testament to our resource-rich land, high immigration, farming, stable government, and that we are distanced far enough from other countries so as to not be entangled in their geopolitical mess. This is what allows our lucky country to weather most economic shocks relativity unscathed.

Paul Miron is managing director of Msquared Capital, a private credit provider with investment opportunities backed by quality property located primarily along Australia’s Eastern Seaboard; we ensure that all investment opportunities are based on risk-to-reward as our core offering, coupled with strong performance. Mortgage funds perform well during volatile times, and capital preservation is regular, with a reliable monthly income that gives our investors peace of mind.

Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu delivered a warning to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a recent visit to Washington: Already-high airfares will surge if the war in Iran doesn’t end soon.

Sununu, a Republican who represents some of the biggest airlines as president of the industry group Airlines for America, has for weeks sounded the alarm to Trump administration officials about the economic fallout from high jet fuel prices. The war, Sununu has argued, must come to a close soon, or things will get worse.

Administration officials have gotten the message.

Privately, President Trump’s advisers are increasingly worried that Republicans will pay a political price for the rising fuel costs, according to people familiar with the matter. Many of those advisers are eager to end the war, hoping prices will begin to moderate before November’s midterm elections.

The fallout from the U.S.-Israeli attack in late February has slowed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane, triggering a sharp increase in oil, gasoline and jet-fuel prices.

That means consumers are grappling with high costs ahead of the summer travel season, as they consider vacation plans.

Sixty-three per cent of Americans said they put a great deal or a good amount of blame on Trump for the increase in gas prices, according to a new poll conducted by NPR, PBS and Marist.

More than 8 in 10 Americans said struggles at the gas pump are putting strain on their finances.

Jet-fuel prices roughly doubled in a matter of weeks after the war began, and they have remained high. Airlines have said that will add billions of dollars of additional expenses this year, squeezing profit margins.

U.S. airlines spent more than $5 billion on fuel in March—up 30% from a year earlier, according to government data.

Carriers have been raising ticket prices, hoping to pass the cost along to consumers, and they are culling flights that will no longer make money at higher price levels.

In March, the price of a U.S. domestic round-trip economy ticket rose 21% from a year earlier to $570, according to Airlines Reporting Corp., which tracks travel-agency sales.

So far, airlines have said the higher fares haven’t deterred bookings and they are hoping to recoup more of the fuel-cost increases as the year goes on.

Earlier this week, Trump said the current price of oil is “a very small price to pay for getting rid of a nuclear weapon from people that are really mentally deranged.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that if Iran got a nuclear weapon, the country would have more leverage to keep the strait closed and “make our gas prices like $9 a gallon or $8 a gallon.”

Trump has taken steps in recent days to bring the war to an end. Late Tuesday, the president paused a plan to help guide trapped commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, expressing optimism that a deal could be reached with Iran to end the conflict.

Crude oil prices fell below $100 a barrel on Wednesday, after reports that Iran and the U.S. are working with mediators on a one-page framework to restart negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and opening the strait.

Sununu said Trump administration officials are conscious of the economic fallout from the war: “They get it…and I think that’s why they’re trying to get through the war as fast as they can.”

But he cautioned that it could take months for prices to return to prewar levels.

“Ticket prices won’t go down immediately” after the strait is fully reopened, Sununu said. “You’re looking at elevated ticket prices through the summer and fall because it takes a while for the prices to go down.”

Since the initial U.S.-Israeli attack in late February, Sununu has met in Washington with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, representatives from the Transportation Department and senior White House officials.

A White House official confirmed that Hassett and Sununu have discussed the effect of increased fuel prices on the airline industry. The official said the conversation touched on how the industry can mitigate the impact of high jet fuel prices on consumers.

“The president and his entire energy team anticipated these short-term disruptions to the global energy markets from Operation Epic Fury and had a plan prepared to mitigate these disruptions,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said, pointing to the administration’s decision to waive a century-old shipping law in a bid to lower the cost of moving oil.

Rogers said the administration is working with industry representatives to “address their concerns, explore potential actions, and inform the president’s policy decisions.”

A Treasury Department spokesman pointed to Bessent’s recent comments on Fox News that the U.S. economy remains strong despite price increases. The spokesman said Treasury officials have met with airline executives, who have reaffirmed strong ticket bookings.

“We’re cognizant that this short-term move up in prices is affecting the American people, but I am also confident, on the other side of this, prices will come down very quickly,” Bessent told Fox News on Monday.

The war has already contributed to one casualty in the industry: Spirit Airlines. Company representatives have said they were forced to close the airline because the sustained surge in jet-fuel prices derailed the company’s plan to emerge from chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Trump administration and Spirit failed to come to an agreement for the company to receive a financial lifeline of as much as $500 million from the federal government.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has argued that the Iran war wasn’t the cause of Spirit’s demise, pointing to the company’s past financial struggles, as well as the Biden administration’s decision to challenge a merger with JetBlue.

Other budget airlines have also turned to the federal government for help since the U.S.-Israeli attack. A group of budget airlines last month sought $2.5 billion in financial assistance to offset higher fuel costs, and they separately wrote to lawmakers asking for relief from certain ticket taxes.

2023: A Year of Economic Turbulence — and Resilience