Fed Officials Willing to Raise Rates, But Only If Convinced Inflation Not Receding
– Key Inflation, Other Data Eagerly Awaited Before Some Make Up Their Minds By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – With barely two weeks to go before Federal Reserve policymakers gather to take fresh stock of the economy and reconsider their short-term interest rate settings, Fed officials are letting it be known they are willing to […]
US ISM Manufacturing Posts 8th Straight Growth in August but at Slower Pace as Persistent Inflation, Trade War Hurt New Orders, Jobs; AI Projects Keep Chip Supply Tight
–ISM’s Spence Sees Positive Sentiment in Employment Start to Deteriorate in August–Spence: Prolonged Trade Uncertainty Can Delay Orders, Increase Price Pressures By Max Sato (MaceNews) – U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the eighth straight month in August but slowed more than expected as persistent inflation during the Iran war and additional punitive import duties slapped […]
Preview: Japan Industrial Expected To Retreat in July
Monday, August 31, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Sunday, August 30) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases July industrial production, the outlook for August and September. Mace News median: -0.6% m/m (range: -1.4% to +1.3%) vs. June revised to +1.9% from +1.3%; +3.6% y/y (range: +2.6% to +5.4%) vs. June revised to […]
Preview: Japanese Retail Sales Seen Up 2.5% on Year in July
Monday, August 31, 2026 0850 JST (2350 GMT/1950 EDT Sunday, August 30) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases July retail sales. Mace News median: +2.5% y/y (range: +1.3% to +3.4%) vs. June revised to +0.6% from +0.5%; +1.6% m/m (range: +0.8% to +1.8%) vs. June revised to -3.9% from -4.1% By Chikafumi Hodo […]
Fed’s Warsh Issues Strong Warnings About Inflation at Fed’s Jackson Hole Symposium
– Warns Expectations Could Become Unanchored if Inflation Stays Elevated – Reaffirms that the Fed’s Job Is To ‘Deliver Stable Prices’ – Sees Labor Markets, Economy Performing Strongly Without Financial Restraint – Says Inflation ‘Has Not Meaningfully improved’ – Again Rejects ‘Forward Guidance’ Or Revealing Fed ‘Reaction Function’ By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Although […]
Japan Week Ahead: July Data to Show Mixed Start to Q3 after BOJ Deputy Governor Himino Downplays Weak Q2 GDP Growth, Keeps September Rate Hike Talk Alive
–July Factory Output to Show Pullback After Recent Gains, Heat Wave Props Up Retail Sales, Sluggish Household Spending Continues amid High Costs By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Financial markets have largely priced in a follow-up interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan in September, with only a three-month interval instead of an earlier expectation […]
Japan Government Sticks to Gradual Economic Recovery Scenario after Sluggish Q2 GDP Growth, Noting Final Demand Still Up
–Government to Watch Drag from Powerful Earthquake That Hit Southwestern Region Last Month as Well as Inflationary Effects of Middle East Conflict By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s government continued to project moderate economic recovery will continue in the near term, downplaying lackluster GDP growth in the April-June quarter, but also warned that high energy […]
Fed’s Collins: ‘Appropriate to Tighten Policy Soon’ If Inflation Doesn’t Recede
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Susan Collins is willing to support an increase in short-term interest rates if forthcoming reports on inflation don’t show it coming down as she hopes, comments released by the bank Tuesday reveal. Without evidence of moderating inflation, she believes “it will be appropriate to […]
Japan Week Ahead: Markets Seek Hints from BOJ Deputy Governor Himino’s Speech on Board Concerns About Upside Inflation Risks amid Weak Q2 GDP Growth
By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Market participants are looking for any clues to whether the Bank of Japan board is getting closer to raising interest rates further in September, instead of waiting until October, when the board updates its economic projections and risk analysis in the quarterly Outlook Report. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda clearly indicated […]
Fed Officials Proceed Cautiously Ahead of September FOMC Meeting, Jackson Hole
By Steven K. Beckner (MaceNews) – Federal Reserve officials generally agree on the need to lower inflation, but they take divergent positions on what path monetary policy needs to take in the near term to achieve that, and on how quickly the Fed needs to take action. There was considerable support for higher interest rates […]