Lakshman Achuthan: Smooth Reflation Sailing (For Now…)

The Interview ·
Featuring Lakshman Achuthan and Ed Harrison

Published on: January 21st, 2021 • Duration: 55 minutes

Lakshman Achuthan, COO and co-founder of ECRI, joins Real Vision managing editor Ed Harrison to share his outlook on economic growth, inflation, and markets. Achuthan charts his way through the next 12 months, pointing out how the bulk of ECRI indicators suggest that reflation is indeed, just as many foresee, here. Achuthan disaggregates “the reflation trade” into the U.S. business cycle upturn, the spike in future inflation gauges, and a pick-up in global industrial growth, predicting that these three forces will for the near-term persist, albeit with the potential for some “storm clouds on the horizon.” Harrison asks Achuthan about the dangers and timescales of these storm clouds, and then the two interpret economic data ranging from jobless claims to shipping numbers to industrial production. Lastly, Achuthan shares his view on interest rates and volatility in the equity and credit markets. Filmed on January 15, 2021. Key learnings: Reflation is here and will continue. In most of the economic data he tracks, Achuthan sees an expected pick-up in growth and inflation. Nonetheless, looking at longer-leading indicators, there are “storm clouds on the horizon” for these variables.