Amazon’s Jeff Bezos in economy warning: ‘Batten down hatches’
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has added his voice to the chorus of voices warning of hardship ahead for the US economy.
On social media, the billionaire wrote that the economy was sending a signal to “batten down the hatches”.
Growth in the US has already contracted for two quarters in a row, a milestone that in many countries – though not the US – is considered a recession.
As the US central bank raises interest rates to fight rising prices, many economists expect a further slowdown.
The drumbeat of concern recently forced US President Joe Biden to address the issue.
In an interview last week, he said “I don’t think there will be a recession. If it is, it’ll be a very slight recession”.
In the US, a panel of economists is charged with declaring the formal start and end of recessions. They use a number of indicators, in addition to gross domestic product in making the determination.
With midterm elections looming in November, Mr Biden has tried to make the case that the slowdown in economic activity is a healthy shift from the growth surge that followed the pandemic lockdowns.
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