Bank of Canada Sees Rate Hike in Mid-2022, Earlier Than Forecast Before
–BOC Brings Forward Rate Hike Timing From 2nd Half 2022 on Economic Pickup–BOC Revises Up 2022 CPI Forecast Sharply Higher, Slashes 2021 GDP Projection–Central Bank Keeps 0.25% Policy Rate As Expected But Ends Asset Purchases By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The Bank of Canada left its record-low policy interest rate unchanged Wednesday but revised its […]
ECB’s Monetary Policy To Stay On Course Despite Inflation Rise – BOI
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank’s monetary policy is expected to remain accommodative despite the “significant” but “temporary” rise in inflation across the eurozone, the Bank of Italy said in its Economic Bulletin released on Friday. According to the BOI “the significant rise in inflation is attributable to the increases in […]
Japan Sept Core CPI Marks 1st Y/Y Rise in 18 Months on Utilities
— Overall Energy Costs Up; Pace of Gasoline Markup Eases Slightly— Total CPI Posts 1st Y/Y Gain in 13 Months on Rebound in Fresh Food— Downward Pressure From Low Cost Mobile Phone Plans Lingers By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Global supply chain disruptions and reopening demand led energy and processed food costs to rise further, […]
ANALYSIS: Japan Faces Cost Inflation Amid Weak Yen, Slow Wage Growth
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Rising energy and commodities prices may help lift Japan’s near-zero inflation rate but a further rise in the costs for daily necessities would dampen already wobbly consumer spending and surging producer prices would hurt small businesses that cannot pass higher input costs on to customers amid uncertain growth prospects. Japan […]
Fed’s Beige Book Sees ‘Significantly Elevated Prices’
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Reserve’s survey of economic conditions coast to coast Wednesday found “significantly elevated prices” and some regional Fed districts in which growth slowed, hampered by labor shortages, supply disruptions and, of course, the Delta variant. Auto sales declined and some districts “noted increased uncertainty and more cautious optimism than in previous […]
Pres Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ Getting Makeover
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – President Biden met with House progressives who then signaled major changes to the legislation to expand the social safety net. Tuition-free community college, a major priority of the White House, will be dropped. Moreover, the child tax credit — another key Democratic priority — would likely be extended for […]
Bundesbank’s Weidmann Makes Surprise Announcement, to Step Down at Year End
— ECB Governing Council to Lose One Of Its Most Hawkish Rate Setters By Laurie Laird LONDON (MaceNews) – Jens Weidmann, president of Germany’s Bundesbank, will relinquish his position at the end of 2021, ridding the European Central Bank of one its most hawkish voices. Weidmann has asked German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to “dismiss” him […]
Italy to Clear EUR20-25 Billion Budget Plan with Tax Cuts and Pension Fixes – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government will approve by end of this week the 2022 budget plan worth up to EUR 25 billion with tax cuts, pro-growth measures and a fix to the current pension system, according to sources. “We’re holding a preliminary meeting today to define the general framework but we still […]
NY Fed’s Williams Opposes Raising FOMC Inflation Target From 2%
–Stresses Need To Anchor Inflation Expectations at 2% By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams defended the Fed’s 2% average inflation target Friday, while emphasizing the need to solidify expectations around that rate. Williams, vice chairman of the Fed’s policymaking Federal Open Market Committee, acknowledged that the real […]
MaceNewsViews: Commentary – Senate Republican Leader McConnell Flexes (Political) Muscle Despite Minority Status
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – As the clock wound down on the debt ceiling and Democrats were unable or unwilling to break the logjam on their own, Republican Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, stepped in and saved the nation from going over the financial cliff. The Kentucky senator reminded the country of the clout he […]