For a while, Kelly couldn't figure out whether there would be a recession, given how mixed signals were muddying the waters. Most economists now agree that there won't be a downturn, but one of the main explanations Kelly gave as to why may be shocking. Besides adding jobs, which tends to boost economic growth, Kelly noted that the presence of cheap workers has kept a lid on wage growth and, by extension, inflation. "But you could say that it has widened the runway for the soft landing. It's made it easier for us to achieve a soft landing."

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Persons: Kelly couldn't, Kelly, —, he's Organizations: Management, US Department of Homeland Security, Pew Research Center