soft landing

American  

noun

Economics.

1. a slowing down of economic growth at a manageable rate relative to inflation and unemployment.

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soft landing British  

noun

1. a landing by a spacecraft on the moon or a planet at a sufficiently low velocity for the equipment or occupants to remain unharmed

2. a decrease in demand that does not result in a country's economy falling into recession

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Etymology

Origin of soft landing

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Strategists like Dario Perkins of TS Lombard argue that markets remain positioned for a benign “soft landing,” even as the conditions for a more forceful reflation are quietly falling into place.

From Barron's

“Ultimately, we are bullish and expect a soft landing environment for valuations that will be placed on structurally strong earnings,” said analysts at Citigroup led by Schott Chronert, who carry an end-2026 price target of 7700 for the S&P 500.

From Barron's

Many others predicted a soft landing.

From MarketWatch

“The recession fears that dominated last year have given way to a broad consensus of economic resilience. Expectations for a soft landing in 2026 — anchored by roughly 2% U.S. growth and near-3% global growth — remain intact, supported by ongoing fiscal stimulus, accelerating AI-driven productivity gains and the prospect of Federal Reserve easing,” Savage said in written commentary.

From MarketWatch

“This is a Fed trying to guide the economy to a soft landing without oversteering,” she added.

From Barron's