In this month’s issue of The Real Economy, our chief economist, Joe Brusuelas, examines how the Fed, with inflation on the rise, is trying to strike a balance between maintaining price stability and full employment. … READ MORE >
monetary policy
RSM US Financial Conditions Index: A move toward normal
After nearly two years of extreme accommodation in the financial markets, the RSM US Financial Conditions index eased to 0.96 standard deviations above neutral—a sign that markets are starting to price in more risk. … READ MORE >
U.S. Consumer Price Index: Inflation broadens out as shelter costs rise by 4.8%
The overall Consumer Price Index climbed by 6.8% on a year-ago basis in November, and by 0.8% on the month as inflation continued to broaden out. … READ MORE >
Bank of Canada decision: Central bankers set the stage for 2022 rate hikes
The Bank of Canada kept its policy rate at 0.25% at its December meeting on Wednesday as it prepares the public and market participants for the normalization of monetary policy and the first increase in interest rates next year. … READ MORE >
Powell reappointed to lead the Fed, with Brainard elevated to vice chairwoman
The Biden administration’s widely expected reappointment of Jerome Powell as chairman of the Federal Reserve on Monday is a strong step toward providing stability and clarity for financial markets at a time when the central bank is under pressure to accelerate efforts to address inflation. … READ MORE >
RSM US Financial Conditions Index: Setting the stage for sustained growth
In its current reading, the RSM US Financial Conditions Index indicates a level of accommodation that is more than 1.4 standard deviations above normal. … READ MORE >
Looking ahead to 2022 and what to expect in the economy
As the economy approaches a full reopening, we expect that growth in 2022 will exceed 4%, the unemployment rate will fall to 3.5% and job growth will average roughly 230,000 per month. … READ MORE >
Fed slows asset purchases as it moves to end pandemic-era accommodation
The Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday that it later this month would start paring back its pandemic-era monetary accommodation even as it held its policy rate between zero and 25 basis points. … READ MORE >
RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index: An inflation tantrum?
Financial markets around the world are reacting to the rising risk of inflation and the prospect of policy responses by central banks, all of which have led to a modest easing in our RSM Canada Financial Conditions Index. … READ MORE >
FOMC preview: Tapering explained
Next week’s meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee will focus on the Federal Reserve’s exit from its pandemic-era asset purchase program that has sent its balance sheet above $8.5 trillion. … READ MORE >