FOMC Resumes Rate Hikes as Powell Hints at Higher Rates To Come

– Ups Funds Rate 25 Bp to 5.25-5.5%; ‘Extent of Additional Policy Firming’ Referenced – Powell: FOMC Could Hike Again in September or Keep ‘Steady’ Depending on Data – Powell Rules Out 2023 Rate Cuts – FOMC Repeats ‘Inflation Remains Elevated’ – FOMC Repeats Bank Credit Tightening to Weigh on Firms and Households By Steven […]

TRANSCRIPT: Fed’s Powell Post-FOMC Meeting Q&A

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The transcript of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s post-FOMC meeting press conference Wednesday follows: Since early last year the FOMC has significantly tightened the stance of monetary policy. Today we took another step by raising our policy interest rate a quarter percentage point. And we are continuing to reduce our securities holdings […]

FOMC Raises Fed Funds Rate Another Quarter Point as Expected; Repeats Previous Language

WASHINGTON (MaceNews)- The Federal Open Market Committee had no surprises to offer Wednesday, fulfilling expectations for another quarter point increase in the fed funds rate, to 5.25% to 5.50%, and using well-worn phraseology to remain committed to 2% inflation. The policy statement follows: Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate […]

Japan Govt Keeps View on Moderate Economic Recovery Backed by Consumer Spending, Business Investment Amid Higher Wage Growth

By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government Wednesday maintained its overall assessment, saying the economy is recovering moderately as substantial wage hikes and Covid-era excess savings are supporting consumer spending while improving supply chains are shoring up business confidence and investment, according to its monthly report released by the Cabinet Office. Japanese policymakers expect robust […]

FOMC Seems Certain To Resume Rates Hikes July 26; What Comes Next Less Sure

By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Before Federal Reserve policymakers convened in mid-June, officials openly talked about wanting to “skip” raising interest rates at that Federal Open Market Committee meeting, and by all indications that’s just what the FOMC will have done. After taking a break from raising the federal funds rate at their June […]

Japan June Core CPI Y/Y Rise Picks Up to 3.3% from May’s 3.2% on Year

Electricity Charge Markups; Processed Food Prices Remain High  –Total CPI +3.3% Y/Y, Also Up From +3.2% in May but Slowing from +3.5% Y/Y in April, 41-Year High of +4.3% in January –Core-Core CPI (Ex-Fresh Food, Energy) Annual Rate Eases to 4.2% from May’s Nearly 42-Year High of 4.3% By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Consumer inflation […]

Fed’s Beige Book Sees Economy Up Only ‘Slightly’ as Inflation at Modest Pace

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The national economy advanced but only slightly in the past six weeks, as price hikes were modest, hiring modest and manufacturing input costs “eased notably,” the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book survey suggested Wednesday. Five regional Fed bank districts reported slight growth, five noted no change and two – Philadelphia and San Francisco […]

White House and Other Schedules for Wednesday, July 12

WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following are Wednesday’s schedules for the White House, Treasury, USTR, the State Department and Capitol Hill as well as U.S. economic data and Federal Reserve events: COMPREHENSIVE TRIP GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FORWEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 – THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023  In the morning, the President will attend the Meeting of […]

Japan June Producer Inflation Eases Further to Fresh 2-Year Low of 4.1% from May’s 5.2% on Energy Subsidies, Falling Lumber Prices, Generally Easing Commodities

–June’s 4.1% Y/Y Rise Lowest Since 3.8% in April 2021 –December’s 10.6% Surge Remains Highest in 42 Years  By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Producer inflation in Japan eased for the sixth straight month in June, hitting a fresh two-year low, as the government’s expanded utilities subsidies continued to cap energy costs and many commodities markets […]