Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi Warns Stock Market Downturn Could 'Knock the Wind Out of' the Wealthy and Trigger Recession

Economic Disparity - An increasing gap in the economy is noted, where wealthy households drive most economic activity while low-income Americans struggle financially [1][3] - The top 20% of earners in the U.S. account for nearly two-thirds of all spending, a record high, while the bottom 80% have seen their share of spending decrease from 42% to 37% since before the pandemic [3] Impact of Stock Market - A potential stock market downturn could significantly affect wealthier households, which are described as the "last pillars" of strength in the economy, potentially leading to a recession [2][4] - The richest 20% of U.S. households own approximately 93% of all stocks, indicating their substantial influence on economic growth [5] Role of AI Stocks - The soaring stock prices of artificial intelligence companies are crucial for the economy, as spending by affluent Americans, driven by their increasing stock portfolios, is a major growth driver [5]