This article has been written primarily for professional astrologers and might be too technical for some of my readers. If this is your case, go to U.S. Economy in 2019.

In 2017-18, the harmonious aspects between Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron and Uranus overpowered the stressful influence of Uranus/Neptune semi-square. As a result, all major world economies avoided an economic contraction normally associated with this semi-square. The U.S. economy was especially fortunate due to many harmonious planetary aspects to the U.S. astrological chart. (To read more, go to Planetary Influences in 2017-18.) Unfortunately, only upper middle class and super wealthy benefitted from this economic expansion. (To read more, go to Rigged Economy.)

In spite of the positive influence of these harmonious aspects, already in the second half of 2018 the U.S. economy began to show the signs of the forthcoming recession, the stock market decline being the most obvious of them. Apparently, other stressful planetary aspects joined Uranus/Neptune semi-square in exerting downward pressure on the economy at the end of 2018. They are discussed below.

Uranus/Pluto Bi-Septile

Uranus and Pluto entered their bi-septile (2/7 of a circle-102.8°) in June 2018 and will remain in or close to this aspect through June 2021. Historically, Uranus/Pluto bi-septile correlates with economic contractions. Acting on its own, it is fairly weak. However, in combination with other stressful aspects, the influence of this bi-septile may cause a recession if not a depression. Thus, Uranus/Pluto bi-septile in 1928-30 combined with a much stronger stressful aspect, Neptune/Pluto semi-square, marked the beginning of the Great Depression, while Uranus/Pluto bi-septile in 1815-17 coincided with Neptune/Pluto square marking the beginning of a 6-year depression in 1815-21.

Restrictions from Saturn

Another stressful planetary influence will disrupt the U.S. economy in 2019. It will come from Saturn transiting the 2^ndHouse of Money in the astrological chart of the United States.

Saturn stands for restrictions, focus and discipline. It also stands for authority that enforces this discipline and imposes restrictions and/or punishment for disobeying it. It is especially relevant for the U.S. economy since in the U.S. horoscope Saturn stands for government in general and for the Congress in particular. 

Saturn entered the 2^nd House of Money in the U.S. chart in December 2018 and will remain there until January 2022. Its entrance into the 2^ndHouse coincided with dramatic political and economic events that negatively affected the U.S. economy and spooked the stock market. These events included an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, rising tensions between the U.S. and China, and the partial U.S. government shutdown. 

Saturn’s restrictive influence upon the U.S. economy is nothing new. In the course of U.S. history, this planet traveled through the House of Money in the U.S. chart eight times, and seven times out of eight its transits coincided with economic contractions. Thus, Saturn’s transit through the 2^nd House of Money from May 1930 through December 1933 occurred during the Great Depression, which lasted from August 1929 through March 1933.

Pluto’s Semi-Square to the U.S. Ascendant

Pluto stands for birth, death, rebirth and powerful transformations. In the astrological chart of the United States, Pluto located in the 2^nd House of Money points to this nation’s so far unsurpassed talent in business, investment and finance. Arguably, it is this position of Pluto that made the U.S. the world superpower.

Pluto entered the U.S. 2^ndHouse of Money in December 2013 and will remain there through March 2032. So, we may expect powerful transformations in the U.S. economy in this period, especially in banking, investment, finance and the stock market. While transiting the 2^ndHouse, Pluto will form a semi-square to the U.S. Ascendant from February through June and in December of 2019. In about the same time, it will form an opposition to the U.S. Mercury located in the 8^thHouse of Business, Finance and the Stock Market. 

In the U.S. chart, Mercury forms stressful aspects, such as a sesqui-square (135°) to the U.S. Ascendant, which stands for the national identity, and a semi-square (45°) to the Descendant, which stands for allies, competitors, partners and enemies. So, in 2019 Pluto transiting the U.S. House of Money will form stressful aspects to Mercury from the House of Finance and at the same time to the Ascendant and Descendant, the latter two stand for the U.S. relationships to its allies and adversaries. The most obvious interpretation of these aspects is a financial crisis, which involves the U.S. relationships with other nations. It also points to a high probability that the current trade war with China will continue at least through 2019. (To read more, go to Trade War. ) In the course of U.S. history, Pluto formed seven stressful aspects, such as conjunctions, semi-squares, squares, oppositions and sesqui-squares, to the U.S. Ascendant and Descendant. Six them coincided with economic contractions, while the remaining one—with the 10% decline in the stock market.

Jupiter and Saturn

As discussed previously, Jupiter and Saturn formed harmonious aspect with Chiron, Uranus and Neptune, which contributed to the stellar performance of the U.S. economy in 2017-18. (To read more, go to Planetary Influences in 2017-18.) This will not continue in 2019. Instead, Jupiter will form stressful aspects, such as a square to Neptune and a sesqui-square to Uranus in January, May-June and November of 2019. Meanwhile, Saturn will form a conjunction to Pluto in April-May 2019. Acting on their own, these aspects cannot produce a recession. However, in combination with other stressful aspects discussed above their negative influence can be quite substantial.

Summary

Under the influence of the stressful aspects between Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, a worldwide economic recession will begin in 2019 and end in 2020 or 2021. (To read more, go to U.S. Economy in 2019.)