00:03From inflation to the looming threat of recession, the global economy seems more precarious than
00:08ever. And according to financial experts looking at the year ahead, there's no shortage of reasons
00:14to worry. As Money Talks News reports, per a Natixis investment manager's survey of more
00:20than 400 investment pros across 28 countries, here are the top five economic threats in 2023.
00:27Global trade continues to look more and more dicey, say 27% of respondents, noting a global
00:34shift towards domestic production and friendshoring, aka moving supply chains to countries where
00:41there's less chance of political turmoil, leading to a disruption in trade. With inflation on the
00:47rise, 32% of respondents are worried about the future of consumer spending, which keeps the
00:53U.S. economy running and drives growth around the world. If too many consumers curtail their
00:58spending in 2023, it could be disastrous. 48% of those surveyed cite rising tensions between
01:05the U.S. and China as a top economic concern. They're the two largest economies in the world,
01:11together accounting for nearly half of the global GDP, and they're tightly interwoven. Rocking
01:17the boat could have dire consequences. Russia's war in Ukraine continues to concern economists
01:22as it enters its second year with no end in sight. According to the Organization for Economic
01:28Cooperation and Development, as reported by the New York Times, the conflict has substantially
01:33reversed post-pandemic economic gains made by many countries, making their financial futures
01:39uncertain. But the leading concern, say 52% of respondents, is the possibility of a miscalculation
01:45by the Central Bank of the U.S., the Federal Reserve, in its now-historic rate-hiking campaign
01:51to curb inflation. In 2022, the central bank raised interest rates to their highest benchmark
01:56in 15 years, marking some of the most aggressive policy moves since the 80s, CNBC reports. It's
02:03too early to tell whether these policies are working, with some economists fearing they could
02:07actually lead to a recession.
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