Will the Coronavirus Cause a Global Recession?

The coronavirus has done more than cause an estimated 82,000 illnesses in more than 40 counties. As well as 2,700 deaths.

As it spreads globally, it is disrupting supply chains. And decreasing product sales. It's making travel chaotic for most and impossible for some.

The coronavirus is also wreaking havoc with the stock market. Which is increasing fears of a worldwide recession.

It has not yet been declared a pandemic. But last week the World Health Organization raised the coronavirus global risk level to "very high."

China is where the coronavirus started. And where it has caused the most illnesses and deaths. This country is so involved in the world's economy that supply distribution has been greatly harmed.

As an outcome, many groups are getting hit hard. They include Apple and Nike. And many others around the world.

Global investment firm Goldman Sachs is concerned about the virus' potential. It has revised earnings growth estimates for U.S. groups in 2020 to zero.

David Kostin is the group's chief U.S. equity strategist. He told people last week that "U.S. companies will generate no earnings growth in 2020."

American stores in China are feeling the brunt of the virus. Lockdowns in several China cities have kept people off the streets. And out of shops.

About one-half of Apple stores there are closed. Starbucks closed 2,000 of its China locations.

A number of U.S.-based luxury labels are also feeling the crunch. They depend on Chinese people.

One firm predicted that luxuries will lose $43 billion in sales this year.

Other industries suffering due to the virus spread are travel and tourism. Travel bans and warnings – as well as anxiety about contagion – are hurting airlines.

Delta, United and American have suspended services between the U.S. and China until the end of March. United is reducing flights to Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

Cruise lines, hotels, casinos and tour groups are also troubled. Even many of the 2.5 million sellers on Amazon are experiencing setbacks. Many rely on inexpensive items from China.

Patrick Maioho provides kitchen items on Amazon. Here's what he told The Wall Street Journal recently.

"I don't think the Amazon platform has seen such a massive amount of inventory problems as we are about to see."

Because of factory shutdowns in China, we might start seeing less Diet Coke on store shelves. As well as other diet soft drinks.

Those shutdowns are causing delays in the production and export of sweeteners sourced from China.

Owners of these factories are torn between the desire to keep their people safe and the necessity of staying in business.

Coca-Cola's annual report says there is uncertainty around the duration of its disruptions. And so the harm on their business are unknown.

On February 12, the Dow Jones Industrial Average peaked. Last week – the worst week on Wall Street since the 2008 financial crisis – it lost 3,583 points. For a 16.3 percent drop.

The S&P 500 plunged 11.5 percent last week. The Nasdaq was down 10.5 percent for the week.

Many investors have moved their money into safe government bonds. That has driven the 10-year Treasury yield to all-time lows.

Paul Christopher is head of global market strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute. He told NPR, "It's unprecedented... Even if you go back 70 years, we've never had a correction... develop so quickly."

It's possible a one-half percentage point interest rate cut could be enacted by the fed soon. But that would probably just be a bandage on the problem. And some believe rates are already too low.

Will the virus continue to spread and become a major problem in the U.S.? As it has in other countries? If so, the entire global financial community is in trouble.

Kevin Hassett is a former White House economist. Last week he told CNN that the world economy could fall into a recession if the outbreak is not contained soon.

"If people are able to spread it outside of the flu season, then this has legs through the summer. And you're absolutely looking at a recession globally," he said.

Janet Yellen agrees. She's the former chair of the Federal Reserve. She said the aftershocks from global economic weakness could "throw the United States into a recession."

A recession is usually defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. That growth is measured by gross domestic product. Which is the total value of final goods and services produced within a quarter.

Whether the U.S. spirals into a recession is dependent on two things. How far and wide the coronavirus spreads here. And how the government handles it.

Rohan Williamson is a finance professor at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. He told the news site Vox, "It's a potential threat to the global economy as it goes on longer."

None of us knows how much the coronavirus will spread. Or how many people it will sicken in the U.S. But we do know the importance of preparing for an emergency. Take the steps you need to now.