FOMC Minutes: ‘Likely Take Some Time’ For ‘Substantial Further Progress’ To Taper QE

–‘Economy Still Far From’ Fed’s Employment, Inflation Goals –Must ‘Clearly Communicate’ ‘Well in Advance’ of LSAPs Tapering –‘Important To Abstract’ from ‘Temporary’ Factors Pushing Up Inflation By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials seemingly were looking far down the road when thinking about slowing the pace of asset purchases at their Jan. 26-27 […]

STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: THE BIG QUESTION MARK – THE TRIAL BEGINS

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes: • Context is everything. Without context, where something fits, its importance can’t be measured and felt, before, during, after. The trial now begins of Donald J. Trump and the “after” will be inscribed […]

DATA PREVIEW: INFLATION SPECTER REAPPEARS EVERYWHERE BUT THE DATA

–CPI on Wednesday; UMich on Friday WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Consumer Price Index is reported on Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and is not expected to exhibit any sudden acceleration, particularly since its driving force, the shelter index, has been moderating for five months. The consumer price measure plays a big role in […]

FOMC TO STAND PAT IN SEEKING MORE INFLATION, EMPLOYMENT

–Fed Officials Agree in Principle; Only Time Will Tell On Implementation By Steve Beckner (MaceNews) – Important questions but only tentative answers abound as the Federal Reserve approaches its first monetary policy meeting of the new year in a mood to await further economic, financial and, yes, public health developments before changing its policy settings. […]

STATUS CHECK: ONE OUT OF MANY, THE RENEWED PROMISE OF INAUGURATION DAY

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Tuesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. • Inauguration Day, and in an address tailored to the moment and maybe to the post-Trump era in the months ahead, Joe Biden kept his first day in office focused on the possibilities […]

STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: WASHINGTON’S IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE AT INFLECTION POINT

–‘I Have a Dream’ or “I Have a Nightmare?’ WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Monday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. •        Great battles seldom preserve the status quo and the one shaping up in Washington could greatly accelerate ideological change or usher in an […]

DATA PREVIEW: HOUSING WEEK AND HOPEFULLY NEW BEGINNINGS

–Domestic Terrorism, Mounting Virus Death Tolls, Deep Divisions Overwhelm Data WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The upcoming week’s events, an Inauguration Day in the armed camp “Green Zone” that is now D.C. amid threats of violence at statehouses across the country, overshadows what little economic data will be published. The week begins with a holiday, progresses to […]

STATUS CHECK COMMENTARY: THE WASHINGTON MINDSET GETS A MAKEOVER

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Thursday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes. • The thousands of government affairs specialists paid by American business firms to be their eyes, ears and arm-wrestlers in Washington are in the midst of the major recalibration that happens when a […]

ECB SIGNALS LESS RELIANCE ON QE AMID SIGNS OF GOVERNING COUNCIL DISAGREEMENT

–Minutes of December Meeting Suggest Council May Not Exhaust Emergency QE Allocation By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank could rely more heavily on its long-term refinancing operations in combatting the Covid-related economic downturn, although minutes of the December rate-setting meeting suggest some disagreement about the appropriate policy path. “The focus on […]