DATA PREVIEW: 4Q GDP, IMF’S WEO, FOMC, DURABLE GOODS

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The upcoming week is packed with economic data, including the fourth quarter GDP, as well as a Federal Open Market Committee policy update and Chair Jay Powell’s news conference, and an update to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook. The GDP report is Thursday. The various GDPNow estimates don’t agree, with the New […]

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. […]

ECB SITS ON ITS HANDS. SAYS DECEMBER FORECASTS HOLD DESPITE LOCKDOWN

By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank left all policy instruments on hold at its latest rate-setting meeting, stressing the ECB’s most recent economic projections envisioned the risk of the strong Covid containment measures currently in place through much of Europe. Forecasts published in December “were predicated on lockdowns lasting through”the first […]

EUROZONE INFLATION STUCK IN THE RED AHEAD OF THURSDAY’S ECB MEETING

—HICP Falls by an Annual Rate of 0.3% in December, Marking the Fifth-Straight Decline By Laurie Laird  LONDON (MaceNews) — Eurozone inflation remained stubbornly in the red at the close of last year, with the HICP index slumping by an annual pace of 0.3%, according to data released by Eurostat on Wednesday.  That decline matches […]

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 […]

ITALY RECOVERY AHEAD, BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN 2023 – BOI

By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MNI) – The Bank of Italy Friday forecast an average 3.5% GDP growth this year, 3.8% in 2022 and and 2.3% in 2023 when pre-crisis levels are expected to be recovered. In its economic bulletin the BOI said the European Central Bank’s ongoing accommodative policy stance and new European measures aimed […]

FED’S POWELL: NOW NOT TIME TO TALK ABOUT EXIT; WON’T CONSIDER UNTIL GOALS REACHED

— Vows To Communicate Very Clearly To Markets To Avoid 2013-style ‘Taper Tantrum’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stressed Thursday that the Fed is far from “exiting” either its zero short-term interest rate stance or its aggressive asset purchase program and proclaimed that the Fed will clearly communicate its […]

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 […]

FED’S BEIGE BK SEES MODEST EXPANSION AMID MIXED SIGNALS

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The surge in COVID-19 cases and “stricter containment measures” have produced mixed results for consumer spending while manufacturing has continued to recover despite weaker auto sales, the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book survey suggested Wednesday. Four districts – Kansas City, Philadelphia, St. Louis and New York – reported no improvement and “a growing […]