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 […]

US ISM Manufacturing Remains in Contraction in April as Trump Tariffs Choke Demand, Prompting Firms to Slash Output, Shed Payrolls amid High Costs

–ISM Manufacturing Index at 48.7 vs. 49.0 in March, Above Consensus (47.9)–ISM’s Fiore: Tariff Concerns Account for 82% of April Survey Comments vs. 67% in March, Overshadowing Any Kind of Demand Comment–Fiore: Don’t Think US in Recession but PMI Indicates Moving in That Direction–Fiore: Not a Tariff Fan; Firms Won’t Invest, US Consumers Will Pay […]

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 […]

Japan Seeks to Tide Over Trade War by Shoring Up Consumption, Keeps Gradual Economic Recovery View Despite Mixed Business Sentiment, Rising Inflation Risks

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government maintained its cautiously optimistic assessment for the eighth straight month, saying the economy is expected stay on a “modest recovery” track, but highlighted the growing uncertainty around the world triggered by the protectionist U.S. trade policy under President Trump. In its monthly report for April released Friday by […]

Bank of Canada Keeps Policy Rate at 2.75%, to ‘Proceed Cautiously’ While Watching Both Upside, Downside Inflation Risks from Trade War

–Governor Macklem: To Remain Less Forward-Looking Than Usual ‘Until Situation Is Clearer’–Mackem: Prepared to Act ‘Decisively’ If Information Points Clearly in One Direction–Macklem: Governing Council Discussed Both Holding Rates Steady and Cutting by 25 Basis Points as in March–Senior Deputy Governor Rogers: Some Are More Optimist about Trade Rows Being Resolved but There Is ‘Clear […]