The S&P 500 index peaked at 4,796 on its January 3 close and had since been on a downward trend for several months. In response to the inflation surge, the Federal Reserve rapidly raised interest rates which further led to a decline in investor confidence. Markets favor low interest rate environments because they are conducive to future growth: when interest rates are low, companies can increase spending, which leads to increased stock prices. As the United States gross domestic product shrank in the first quarter of 2022, fears of an economic recession contributed to the decline in equity prices. The gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2022, according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. By June 16, 2022, the S&P had fallen 23.55% from 4,796 to 3,666, though its currently unknown if the index will plunge below the level. The DJIA fell 18.78% since its January 4 high, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 33.70% from its November 19 high.
