Rising interest rates and growing personal debt causes slowdown

The Debate

This week's panel discuss whether US consumers have the entire future of global economic growth on their shoulders

With the future of economic growth foisted on the shoulders of the US consumer, this week's debate focuses on the impact of a slowdown in spending. Present were Simon Carter of Aegon, Antony Gifford of Henderson Global Investors and Threadneedle's Cormac Weldon. How important is the US consumer to global investors? Cormac Weldon: It is an important aspect of global investing. We know the US consumer has what seems to be an insatiable appetite, especially from exporting countries in Asia. That said, it is of somewhat declining importance, as we expect consumer demand from the US to s...