The American economy has entered a period of recovery that will be followed by a robust expansion, leading it almost surely to the pre-pandemic level of output in the near term and a return to full employment in 2022. With the end of the pandemic in sight, the Federal Open Market Committee, at its ... READ MORE >
Jerome Powell
FOMC preview: Fed to consider adjustments key to the middle market
Much is riding on the Federal Open Market Committee policy rate meeting next week, given recent changes in the economic landscape. Rising growth expectations, increasing interest rates, modestly higher inflation expectations and the recent challenge to the Federal Reserve’s flexible average inflation ... READ MORE >
Powell statement: Market challenging Fed’s credibility on inflation targeting
The knee-jerk market response that sent the 10-year Treasury yield to 1.54% during Thursday’s speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell implies that the Fed may have to act to dampen yields at the long end of the curve. That may be necessary to reinforce its policy regime of flexible average ... READ MORE >
FOMC meeting: Fed adds to debate on further fiscal aid
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said in the opening statement of his news conference on Wednesday that the arrival of vaccines has bolstered the economic outlook for later this year and noted the role of monetary policy in combating the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. At the same time, ... READ MORE >
FOMC preview: Addressing market rise in inflation expectations
The January meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee this week presents the central bank with an opportunity to reinforce its forward guidance, which is most likely not going to change for years. At the same time, it will provide Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell the opportunity to damp down ... READ MORE >
FOMC preview: All is quiet
Thursday's meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee will almost surely signal that all is quiet on the monetary front given the major changes by the central bank this year. We expect no change in the policy rate, forward guidance or the pace of asset purchases. Since the introduction of the ... READ MORE >
FOMC rate decision: Waiting on September
The U.S. economy has largely moved sideways with a downward tilt over the past month as pent-up demand waned and lower- and middle-income households pulled back on spending in anticipation of a reduced pace of fiscal aid. The Federal Reserve used its policy statement and Chairman Jerome Powell his ... READ MORE >
FOMC preview: Coming attractions at the Fed
The Federal Reserve's rate decisions on July 29 will likely be remembered not for what is stated inside the policy communique. Rather, it will be long noted for what Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says at his news conference following the publication of the policy statement with respect to coming change in ... READ MORE >
FOMC policy update: Fed signals that the worst is behind the U.S.
Policymakers at the Federal Reserve on Wednesday signaled that the worst of the pandemic-induced recession had passed as its summary of economic projections and “dot plot” rate forecast both implied that the zero interest-rate policy would remain in place throughout the central bank’s forecast horizon ... READ MORE >
Federal Reserve expands scope of Main Street Lending Program
(This article was updated on Oct. 30 to reflect new terms in the Main Street Lending Program.) With the Main Street Lending Program likely to be launched in the coming days, the Federal Reserve has once again announced updates that expand the scope of the program. The adjustments include lengthening ... READ MORE >