We see worrying parallels emerging in the US. Unlike the deleveraging seen in most previous recessions, US debt levels have increased sharply in the Covid-19 recession. Private sector debt increased by 9.5 per cent of GDP last year, pushing the 10-year growth rate up to 15 per cent of GDP (the fastest debt growth in 50 years).
As the IMF noted in its Financial Stability Update, policymakers have no alternative but to do what it takes to create “a bridge to the recovery”. The worry is this also creates conditions for medium term financial instability. In which case, it could turn out to be “a bridge to nowhere”.