The Atlanta Fed, where GDP forecasts always seem to come out on the high side, put Q1’s real GDP growth at just +0.3%. With interest rates appearing to have peaked at the lowest level in modern history, the world seems to be mimicking the Japanese experience of the last 30 years, i.e., low inflation, low growth, record low interest rates. A stronger dollar puts downward pressure on exports as their translation into other currencies makes them more expensive. In an era where there is downward pressure on prices due to demographics, technology, and globalism, rising wage rates put downward pressure on profit margins, and that likely means falling analyst profit estimates going forward. That means downward pressure on top line revenues going forward.

Source: Forbes March 11, 2019 00:22 UTC