The need for greater climate finance has been the focus of numerous industry analyses, including at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference . The World Economic Forumthat we are in a place in which investment levels remain multiple times below what is needed to reach net zero by 2050. Moreover, not all investments have the appropriate risk-return profiles to meet the fiduciary mandates of investors.
Yet a disconnect is happening between the actual state of the US economy and the way people in the US feel about it. More than half of registered voters in 6 battleground states rated the economy as “poor” in a recentand Siena College. Despite consistent spending patterns and stable home budgets, pessimistic consumer sentiment is being driven by elevated inflation and high interest rates.I was curious.
Consumer spending continued to grow in both nominal and real terms. A strong labor market bolstered consumer spending, as employers continued to add jobs, and average hourly wages increased notably. Consumer spending was also supported by higher asset values, as both home prices and strong equity performance increased household net worth. Innovations in computing also drove enthusiasm for equities, as new technologies drove hopes for economy-wide improvements in productivity.
“Overall, our view is that investors need to think globally, position themselves to be prepared for a decarbonizing economy, and be nimble as market conditions change.”