预测美国经济衰退的“最关键指标”，已跌至五年来新低

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the increasing probability of an economic recession in the U.S., currently estimated at 48% according to Moody's Analytics, with historical data suggesting that once the probability reaches this level, a recession is likely to follow [2][5]. - Moody's analysis indicates that the housing market data is a critical component of their economic indicators, with building permit volumes identified as a key predictor of economic downturns. Recent trends show a decline in building permits, which have fallen to their lowest level since the pandemic lockdowns [5][10]. - The article notes that in July, the seasonally adjusted annualized total of residential building permits was reported at 1.35 million units, reflecting a month-over-month decrease of 2.8% and a year-over-year decrease of 5.7% [5][10]. Group 2 - Despite a decrease in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from nearly 7% to approximately 6.3%, it remains uncertain whether this will sufficiently boost builder confidence or how much further rates may decline [8]. - The Federal Reserve has expressed concerns regarding the housing market, as indicated in the minutes from their July meeting, where they noted worries about weak housing demand, rising supply, and falling home prices [9]. - Residential investment, as a strong predictor of economic recession, has also shown negative trends, with a reported decline of 4.7% in the second quarter, worsening from a 1.3% drop in the first quarter [10].