• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics

1

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
FinanceEconomy

Larry Summers says a hard landing is ‘substantially more likely’ as the Fed fights to bring down inflation

By
Alena Botros
Alena Botros
Former staff writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Alena Botros
Alena Botros
Former staff writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 28, 2022, 3:57 PM ET
Larry Summers, former Treasury Secretary, in 2022.
Larry Summers, former Treasury Secretary, in 2022.Kevin Dietsch—Getty Images

The intense debate over the fate of the U.S. economy continues. Will the Fed’s aggressive interest rate hikes trigger a “hard landing” and a recession? Or is there still a chance that the Fed can bring down inflation without bringing down the economy? 

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers seems to believe a hard landing is likely. 

“I think a hard landing is substantially more likely than a soft landing,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “I think if inflation is going to come down in two or three years rather than the 10…that’s likely to be in the context of a recession not in the context of a smooth path.” 

Summers was responding to a question about a recent Bank of America analysis that found in cases where inflation in developed economies rose above 5% between the 1980s to the 2000s, it took on average 10 years to bring it down to the Fed’s current target of 2%.

He added that the Fed’s current expectations seemed a little too rosy. 

“I think the likelihood is that the current Fed forecast, which is that both unemployment will peak at 4.5% and that we will get back to 2% inflation within two and a half years—I think the odds that both those things are going to happen together are probably less than one in four,” Summers added. 

The Fed raised interest rates by 75 basis points for the third consecutive time last week in its attempt to slow down the overheated economy and bring down inflation. Year-over-year inflation rose 8.3% in August, down from July’s reading of 8.5% and June’s reading of 9.1%. But the drop was less than expected and last month, Fed chair Jerome Powell warned that Americans would feel “pain” as the Fed tries to lower inflation. 

Summer’s comments this week that a hard landing would be hard to avoid echoed similar ideas he shared with Fortune in an interview earlier this month.

“History teaches us that soft landings represent the triumph of hope over experience,” he said. “There are no examples when inflation was above 4% and unemployment was below 4% that the economy achieved a soft landing. We are unlikely to achieve a reduction of inflation to something like the Fed’s target without a significant slowing of the economy.”

As inflation has remained stubborn, a host of other economists have recently spoken more frankly about the risk of a recession. Economist Mohamed El-Erian recently told Fortune that the chance of a soft landing has become “uncomfortably low.” And Diane Swonk, KPMG’s chief economist, has said that she thinks the Fed has given up on a soft landing. In a note earlier this week, UBS economists said “the risk of a hard landing is rising.”

Summers, who’s been a vocal critic of the Fed, said it took too long for the institution to react to rising inflation. 

“The Fed allowed itself to get way behind the curve for a long time in 2021 and early ’22, and in the process, sacrificed a reasonable amount of credibility,” he said. 

When asked what he would do if he were on Fed to determine when to stop raising rates, Summers told the Journal that he’d watch what’s happening in the labor market.

“I’d be looking for evidence that signs of an overwhelmingly tight labor market were giving way to signs of a labor market with more slack,” he said. 

Despite his earlier criticism of the Fed, Summers says the Fed is doing what it needs to.

“I think the best thing the United States can do for the global economy is to properly manage our own global economy. And as I’ve said, I think the Fed is moving in that direction,” Summers said. 

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.

About the Author
By Alena BotrosFormer staff writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alena Botros is a former reporter at Fortune, where she primarily covered real estate.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

brigham
CommentaryRailroads
The U.S. freight network is broken by design. One merger could start fixing it
By Brigham A. McCownMay 21, 2026
12 minutes ago
Top CD rates today, May 21, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.20%
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates today, May 21, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.20%
By Glen Luke FlanaganMay 21, 2026
41 minutes ago
The top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on May 21, 2026
Personal FinanceSavings accounts
The top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on May 21, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganMay 21, 2026
41 minutes ago
Europe is considering price caps to control inflation. CEOs are shaking their heads in despair
EconomyLetter from London
Europe is considering price caps to control inflation. CEOs are shaking their heads in despair
By Kamal AhmedMay 21, 2026
1 hour ago
microsoft
AIProductivity
America’s new AI map shows something surprising: ‘A lot of normal people are adopting AI’
By Nick LichtenbergMay 21, 2026
2 hours ago
Girl doing backflip into the ocean.
Travel & LeisureAir Travel
Your ‘flexible hot girl summer’ is going to cost you
By Catherina GioinoMay 21, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
2 days ago
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
Success
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
By Preston ForeMay 20, 2026
20 hours ago
Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
Future of Work
Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
By Mike Householder and The Associated PressMay 17, 2026
4 days ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
9 days ago
Dr. Bernice King on why companies that walked back DEI were never truly committed: 'If you retreat that quick…that reveals who you really are'
Workplace Culture
Dr. Bernice King on why companies that walked back DEI were never truly committed: 'If you retreat that quick…that reveals who you really are'
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 20, 2026
21 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.