U.S. households, businesses and investors should brace for a sharp economic downturn in the first half of 2020 because of the new coronavirus pandemic—and hope for a bounce back during the second half of the year. Along the way, the government is on track to test federal budget deficit records hit after the 2008 financial crisis, when annual red ink soared past $1.5 trillion.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 16, 2020 19:18 UTC