WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) – While the U.S. economy rebounded faster than originally anticipated, following a large contraction in the second quarter, U.S. employment probably won’t recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2023, a senior Federal Reserve Bank official said.
“The scenario of continued growth that I have presented depends on a sustained decline in the rate of new infections – probably a result of nearly universal mask-wearing, especially indoors – that ensures only sporadic new outbreaks,” Patrick Harker, president of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank, said, at a virtual event held by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum.
“We’re also assuming that a vaccine becomes widely available sometime mid to late next year. But COVID-19, as the world has learned all too painfully, is difficult to control,” he said, adding, the path of the economy largely depends on the path of the virus.
Even if recovery continues and a new surge of the virus is avoided, segments, like tourism and hospitality will remain subdued for a long time to come, presenting an overall drag on U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and employment growth, Harker noted.
“Employment, unfortunately, probably won’t be back to pre-pandemic levels until 2023,” he said, urging U.S. lawmakers to consider providing additional support to blunt economic impact of COVID-19.
“Because of our country’s unique inability to control the virus, we’ve suffered approximately 21 percent of the world’s deaths, despite housing only about four percent of the world’s population,” he said.
Harker’s remarks came, after U.S. House Democrats unveiled a 2.2-trillion-U.S.-dollar COVID-19 relief package, which attempted to pressure the White House and Republicans to reach a deal before the presidential election in Nov.
House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi and White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, both said they’re hopeful they can reach an agreement on the COVID-19 relief package, as the stalled talks resumed, according to local media.– NNN-AGENCIES
