The US economy is being affected by the Federal Reserve’s decision to hike interest rates more than anticipated. The inversion of the US Treasury yield curve, which has historically been a reliable indicator of an impending recession, is the most obvious symptom of this disturbance. It’s crucial to comprehend what’s happening and why it matters as investors fret about what this might portend for both short- and long-term economic development.

The yield curve is a line graph that displays bond yields for different maturities. Due to the risk, investors assume by locking up their money for a longer length of time, 10-year Treasury bonds typically offer greater yields than 2-year Treasury bonds. Nevertheless, when the yield curve inverts, it foreshadows impending economic problems as investors start to seek higher returns from shorter maturities, a symptom of their lack of faith in potential future growth. This has been the case since at least 1960 when economist Art Okun discovered that bond yields and future economic activity have an inverse connection.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, Jerome Powell’s prediction that interest rates would rise more quickly than anticipated caused the yield curve to invert, with 2-year bonds yielding more than 10-year bonds over extended periods of time. Investors are nonetheless apprehensive about the possible implications of continued hikes on both firms and consumers, despite Powell’s efforts to ease the blow by assuring markets that they are intended to prevent inflation rather than stall economic growth.

If policymakers fail to address the wide-ranging implications of an inverted yield curve, catastrophic consequences may result. Companies can discover that they are unable or unwilling to borrow money at higher rates, which would result in a reduction in investments that support job creation and economic growth. If banks pass on rising interest rates for credit cards, mortgages, and other types of debt, consumers may also pay more for borrowing. This could result in lower spending, which could further pressure an already fragile economy.

With all of this in mind, it is obvious why investors are concerned about what future Fed action would mean for our economy. One thing is certain: if we are to prevent another recession in the near future, we must continue to pay close attention to changes in our shifting monetary policy landscape. We may not yet know what will happen next.