Fitch Ratings Downgrades United States’ Credit Rating

Fitch Ratings, a leading credit rating agency, has downgraded the long-term foreign currency issuer default rating of the United States from AAA to AA+. This downgrade is primarily attributed to the expected deterioration of the country’s fiscal situation over the next three years, along with concerns regarding governance and the growing national debt burden.

Reasons for Downgrade

Fitch expressed its lack of confidence in the management of the country’s finances, citing repeated political standoffs over the debt limit and last-minute resolutions as factors eroding fiscal stability. The agency particularly mentioned the recent debt ceiling fight, which led to a negative watch being placed on the nation’s AAA rating in May.

Impact on Financial Markets

Following the downgrade, U.S. stock futures opened lower, with Dow futures experiencing a decline of around 100 points. The rating agency’s decision has raised concerns among investors and market participants.

Persistent Governance Issues

Fitch noted a steady deterioration in governance standards over the past two decades, especially regarding fiscal and debt matters. Despite the bipartisan agreement to suspend the debt limit until January 2025, the agency remains skeptical about the long-term effectiveness of such measures.

Rising General Government Deficit

Fitch also highlighted the increasing general government deficit, projecting a rise to 6.3% of the gross domestic product in 2023, up from 3.7% in 2022. The agency expressed concerns about the limited impact of the planned cuts to non-defense discretionary spending on the medium-term fiscal outlook.

Potential Economic Consequences

The credit rating agency warned that a combination of tightening credit conditions, weakening business investment, and a slowdown in consumption could lead to a “mild” recession in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of the following year.

The White House’s Response

The White House disagreed with Fitch’s downgrade, emphasizing the strength of the United States’ economic recovery under President Biden’s leadership. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that it defies reality to downgrade the country at a time when it has achieved the most robust recovery among major economies worldwide.

Past Downgrades and Political Risk

This is not the first time the United States’ credit rating has been downgraded. In 2011, Standard & Poor’s lowered the nation’s credit rating from AAA to AA+ after Washington managed to avoid a default. Political risk was a notable factor in the agency’s decision.

–Contributed reporting by HaberTusba’s Christina Wilkie.