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Majority of Investors Say Fed Should Stop Raising Rates, According to Wells Fargo/Gallup Study

12/17/2018
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Half of investors think the economy is “solid;” 39% describe it as “shaky” or “weak”

Nearly half of investors say incomes have not kept up with inflation

Investor optimism holds steady in fourth quarter

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. investors are not supportive of further interest rate hikes, with a majority surveyed by Wells Fargo – 61 percent – saying the Federal Reserve should not continue to raise rates, up from 46 percent surveyed in May. Nearly half of those investors – 48 percent – say that raising rates would be “bad” for the economy, outweighing 16 percent who say rate hikes would be beneficial. Thirty seven percent say raising rates “won’t make much of a difference” for the economy.

In addition, 47 percent of surveyed investors say their income has not kept up with the rate of inflation over the past four years.

The latest findings come from the fourth quarter Wells Fargo Investor and Retirement Optimism Index survey, conducted Nov. 12-20. The survey is based on 1,022 U.S. adults with $10,000 or more invested in stocks, bonds or mutual funds.

The Wells Fargo Investment Institute expects a rate hike at the upcoming FOMC meeting that concludes on Dec. 19. ”Our current outlook is for three additional rate hikes over next year before the Fed ends its current rate hike cycle,” said Brian Rehling, co-head of global fixed income strategy for the Institute.

Economy Described as “Solid” and Living Up to Reports

Only 11% of investors in the fourth-quarter poll describe the current U.S. economy as “booming,” but another 50 percent consider it “solid.” Despite this positive assessment, a significant minority, 39 percent, use the words “shaky” or “weak.”

Separately the poll finds more than six in 10 investors perceiving the economy to be about as strong as it has been reported to be (40 percent) or stronger than reported (23 percent). Meanwhile, 37 percent say the economy is “not as strong” as reported.

The Wells Fargo Investment Institute does not foresee a recession next year, though risks increase beyond 2019.

The Wells Fargo Investor and Retirement Optimism Index, which is a consumer-based barometer of how investors view the investing climate, didn’t budge in the fourth quarter, coming in at 98, the same level as in the third quarter. The index has hovered near 100 for most of the past two years, following a 16-year period when it was consistently below that level.

Will the Fed Make the Right Decision on Rates?

A slight majority of surveyed investors, 53 percent, say they have faith in the Federal Reserve to make the right decisions on interest rates. This includes 8 percent who have a “lot of confidence” in the Fed and 45 percent who have a “fair” amount of confidence. At the same time, close to half – 47 percent - have only “a little” (38 percent) or “no trust” (9 percent) in the Fed’s decision-making on interest rates.

Inflation Anxiety on the Horizon

As much as investors oppose further interest rate hikes, inflation could be an even bigger stressor for investors.

Seventy percent are concerned that inflation could go “a lot higher” versus 30 percent who are more worried that interest rates could go “a lot higher.” While the vast majority of retired and non-retired investors see inflation as the greater risk, retired investors (75 percent) are a bit more likely than non-retired investors (67 percent) to be wary of inflation.

More than eight in 10 of the investors surveyed believe a potential trade war with China will increase prices and likely raise inflation in the U.S., including 47 percent who consider this “very likely” and 37 percent “somewhat likely.” Just 16 percent say it is unlikely that a trade war with China would force U.S. prices higher.

“Investors would likely cheer news of a solid and definitive U.S. trade agreement with China. Continued tensions in the U.S.-China trade dynamic could further exacerbate uncertainty in U.S. financial markets,” said Rehling.

The poll, conducted prior to the G-20 meeting and negotiations between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on trade that ended Dec. 1, found that a slight majority of investors, 53 percent, feel worried about a U.S.-China trade war versus 47 percent who are not worried.

As investors grapple with concerns on inflation and trade, only 16 percent state that they’re “very concerned” about the recent sharp volatility in the markets. A strong majority of investors – 68 percent – say that they’re comfortable riding out a 500-point drop in the stock market in a single day and therefore maintaining their equity positions.

Most Investors Expect to Live Past 80

Investors surveyed expect to live to a median age of 85, with 47 percent saying they will live between the ages of 86 to perhaps 96 or longer. Nine percent say they will live past age 96.

According to the survey, 52 percent say they would be willing to take “only a little risk” or “no risk at all” to generate higher returns on their investments. Forty-eight percent would be willing to take “a lot” or “a fair amount of risk.” Of the 47 percent of investors who see themselves living past 86, 51 percent say they would be inclined to take risk to potentially generate higher returns.

Asked how likely it is they could remain “financially comfortable” if they live to 100, just 15 percent of investors say it’s “very likely,” and another 40 percent say “likely.” Forty-four percent, say maintaining financial comfort is “not likely.”

“With lengthening lifespans in the modern age, and low yields in savings accounts, a question for investors is ‘how much risk are they willing to take to generate return?’ especially if they are going to live into their 90s. We see essentially a split among investors, with a little less than half willing to take on risk to generate return,” said Rehling.

About the Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index

The results of this Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index are based on a Gallup Panel web study completed by 1,022 U.S. investors, aged 18 and older, from Nov. 12 to 20, 2018. The Gallup Panel is a probability-based longitudinal panel of U.S. adults who Gallup selects using random-digit-dial phone interviews that cover landline and cellphones. Gallup also uses address-based sampling methods to recruit Panel members. The Gallup Panel is not an opt-in panel. The sample for this study was weighted to be demographically representative of the U.S. adult population, using the most recent Current Population Survey figures. For results based on this sample, one can say that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Margins of error are higher for subsamples. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error and bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

For this study, the American investor is defined as an adult in a household with stocks, bonds or mutual funds of $10,000 or more, either in an investment account or in a self-directed IRA or 401(k) retirement account. About two in five U.S. households have at least $10,000 in such investments. The sample consists of 67% nonretirees and 33% retirees. Of total respondents, 39% reported annual incomes of less than $90,000; 61% reported $90,000 or more. The Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Index is an enhanced version of Gallup’s Index of Investor Optimism, which provides the historical trend data. The median age of the non-retired investor is 49 and the retiree is 68.

The Index of Investor Optimism has an adjusted baseline score of 100 from when it was established in October 1996. It peaked at +152 in January 2000, at the height of the dot-com boom, and hit a low of -81 in February 2009.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,050 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 38 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2018 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

General Disclosures

Wells Fargo Investment Institute, Inc. (“WFII”) is a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

The information in this report represents opinions as of the date of this report and are for general information purposes only and are not intended to predict or guarantee the future performance of any individual security, market sector or the markets generally. WFII does not undertake to advise you of any change in its opinions or the information contained in this report. Wells Fargo & Company affiliates may issue reports or have opinions that are inconsistent with, and reach different conclusions from, this report.

The information contained herein constitutes general information and is not directed to, designed for, or individually tailored to, any particular investor or potential investor. This report is not intended to be a client-specific suitability analysis or recommendation, an offer to participate in any investment, or a recommendation to buy, hold or sell securities. Do not use this report as the sole basis for investment decisions. Do not select an asset class or investment product based on performance alone. Consider all relevant information, including your existing portfolio, investment objectives, risk tolerance, liquidity needs and investment time horizon.

Media
Kelly Reilly, 314-797-9701
kelly.reilly@wellsfargo.com

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The Wells Fargo/Gallup Investor and Retirement Optimism Index came in at 98 in the fourth quarter of 2018. (Graphic: Business Wire) 984 x 905 jpg 167 KB
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