How the government shutdown and furloughs could impact markets and the economy

Market Response to Government Shutdown - The equity markets reached all-time highs despite the government shutdown, indicating a historical trend where shutdowns have not significantly impacted market performance [2][3][4] - The excitement surrounding AI technology, particularly in the semiconductor sector, has contributed to market strength [3] - Treasury yields decreased slightly, influenced by weak ADP job data and expectations of continued Federal Reserve rate cuts [5][6] Economic Implications - The government shutdown is expected to have a non-linear impact on the economy, with a general rule of thumb suggesting a 0.1% decrease in GDP for each week of the shutdown [19] - If the shutdown extends beyond October 17th, the unemployment rate could rise to 4.8%, but this is anticipated to be a temporary spike [19] - Businesses are likely to exercise caution and avoid significant risks during periods of uncertainty, which could lead to permanent losses in the economy [20][21] Data Dependency and Future Outlook - The lack of government data makes alternative data sources more critical for economic analysis, as traditional metrics may not be available [14][15] - The Federal Reserve's decisions will be heavily influenced by the available data, with a focus on labor market indicators [6][27] - The key number to watch for maintaining stable unemployment is 40,000 jobs created per month, which is essential for economic stability [29][30]