Apollo's Torsten Sløk on the 'very, very important issue' facing the US economy

AI Impact on Labor Market & Economy - The market is considering the potential impact of AI expansion on the labor market, with concerns about job displacement [1] - There's uncertainty regarding AI's impact on the economy, specifically whether it will increase the unemployment rate [2] - While AI implementation is expected to create productivity gains for companies, the macro-level impact, especially by 2026, remains uncertain [5][6] Affordability & Fiscal Policy - The rising prices of education, healthcare, and housing are consuming a larger share of consumer spending, impacting affordability [9][10] - The Federal Reserve has limited tools to directly address the affordability crisis, particularly in sectors like housing [11][12] - Fiscal policy, particularly actions by Congress, such as rolling back tariffs on food or providing tax incentives for first-time home buyers (e g, $5,000 or $10,000), could help improve affordability [14][15][16] Inflation & Economic Growth - There's a risk of a second inflation surge due to growth driven by AI and fiscal policy, particularly the immediate expensing of capital expenditures [19][20][21] - The market rally is potentially anticipating an economic boom, leading to increased investment in sectors like technology stocks [22] - The narrative is shifting from concerns about economic slowdown to expectations of accelerated growth, potentially leading to increased corporate earnings by 2026 [25][26] Federal Reserve & Monetary Policy - The potential for political influence on the Federal Reserve's decisions, especially regarding interest rate cuts, is a concern [27][30] - Disagreement among Federal Reserve members regarding interest rate policy is increasing, potentially leading to less clear messaging from the Fed [31][32] - The choice of the new Fed chair in May 2026 is critical, as they will need to balance the risks of high inflation against a potentially weaker labor market [28][29]