Category: FOMC

FOMC: MINIMAL CHANGE IN OUTLOOK; STILL SEE TWO RATE CUTS THIS YEAR BUT SOMEWHAT LESS SO

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday made only minuscule adjustments to its outlook, still anticipating two rate cuts this year with slightly less enthusiasm. The Fed;s “dot plot” had seven participants seeing no rate moves this year while eight saw two rate cuts. Another two saw one rate cut. The FOMC’s economic […]

Fed Officials Still Pursuing Monetary Policy ‘Patience’ in Face of Trade Uncertainty

– Some Talk of Eventual Rate Cuts; Others More Reticent By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials have continued this week to express caution about changing monetary policy from the “moderately restrictive” stance it has been in since the Fed completed 100 basis points worth of short-term interest rate cuts in December. President […]

Fed Officials Still Hopeful About Economy, In No Rush to Cut Interest Rates

– Divergent Views Have Emerged But for Now Officials United on Need For Patience By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – As the Federal Reserve approached its mid-year monetary policy meeting, Fed officials have given few signs this week that they are prepared to change their “moderately restrictive” interest rate settings any time soon. While officials […]

Fed Officials Continue to Push Off Rate Cuts As They Await ‘Clarity’

– Musalem, Others See No Rush to Change Monetary Policy By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials have continued this week to speak in a patient, cautious vein, strongly suggesting they see no need to rush to ease monetary policy in a climate of heightened uncertainty. Fed officials have largely echoed Fed Chair […]

FOMC Holds Funds Rate Steady as Powell Sees ‘No Hurry’ To Ease Policy

– Sees Risks Up for Both Higher Unemployment And Higher Inflation – Powell Says FOMC May Have to Make Tough Policy Choice but No Need Now By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Facing heightened uncertainty about how the Trump administration’s trade and other policies will affect the economy, Federal Reserve policymakers once again marked time […]

FOMC Stands Pat, Sees Risks Up for Both Unemployment, Inflation

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday, as expected, decided to maintain its policy rate and the only notable addition to the policy statement was that the Fed sees “the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen.” The policy statement follows: Although swings in net exports have affected the data, recent […]

FED’S BEIGE BOOK: Analysts See ‘Pre-Downturn’ Assessment of Tepid Economy Coast to Coast

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s latest “Beige Book” survey Wednesday of economic conditions in all 12 Fed Districts reflected widespread uncertainty because of shifting trade policy, softening consumer spending and worsening outlooks that hinted at an economy on the precipice of a downturn. The following is the national summary and District-by-District snapshots from the […]

Fed’s Powell: Economy, Labor Market ‘Still Solid’ But Outlook ‘Highly Uncertain’

– Tariffs May Boost Both Inflation, Unemployment; Give Fed ‘Difficult’ Choices – FOMC May Have to Make ‘Difficult Judgment’ in Balancing Inflation, Job Goals – Fed Chief Refrains from Saying FOMC Is In ‘No Hurry’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday the economy and labor market remain “solid” […]