Update 656 — Fed Boosts Rate 50 BPsIs Soft—and Swift—Landing in Sight? Today, the Federal Reserve announced a 50 basis point interest rate increase, bringing the borrowing benchmark up to a targeted range of 4.25-4.5 percent. This rate hike, a slowdown after four consecutive 75 point increases, suggests the Fed believes it may have a …
Update 649 — A Midterm Mandate?Finding Meaning in Voters’ Message The GOP may be in dire need of introspection, reappraisal, and course correction, following the message delivered by the voters and the best midterm performance by the party in power in almost a century. The lessons of this success need not be lost on the …
Update 647 — A Record 4th 75 bp Hike:(How) Will The Fed Know When to Stop? For the fourth time since March, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by 75 basis points — the most rapid increase in decades. After an admittedly slow start, the Fed Chair Powell says with his policy “damn the …
Update 644 — It’s the Economy… AgainNavigating the Top-Ranking Voter Issue Midterm election voters have 18 days to weigh issues and candidates, decide, and vote. 2022 has seen a war in Ukraine, worldwide inflation, and a Supreme Court ruling ending national abortion protection. Some issues have riveted and rallied voters — notably abortion for Democrats …
Update 634: CPI Moves SidewaysThe Good News in Inflation Picture Looking at news headlines about and the markets’ response to yesterday’s Consumer Price Index Report for August, you might think inflation is skyrocketing unabated. That might sell, but under the hood are a vertical drop in consumer gas prices, a drop in producer prices, and …
Update 624 — Another 75 bp Hike by FedRole of Consumer in Recession Risk Ahead The Federal Reserve announced by unanimous vote an increase in its target interest rate by 75 basis points for the second month in a row this afternoon. Though expected, this and last month’s rate hikes— both the largest since 1994 …
Update 620 — CPI for June up 9.1%But Trends Complicate Inflation Story The CPI report for June, showing a 9.1 percent hike in prices from a year ago, up from 8.6 percent in May, may alarm some and immediately suggests another 75 basis point interest rate by the Fed at its next meeting, July 26-27. …
Update 616 — Fueling Uncertainty:Fed Fights Inflation, Recession Risk Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell took the hot seat this week during the semiannual Humphrey-Hawkins hearings before Congress. Recently re-confirmed as Chair, Powell had to manage his way through cross examination regarding the Fed and inflation, following a hot 8.6 percent May CPI rise in inflation …
Update 613 — Running on the EconomyMaking the Best of an Inflated Situation In part two of our outlook on running on the economy this midterm cycle, we cover the inflated elephant in the room. Americans continue to feel the pain of increased prices. Despite signs that inflation may have crested, the public mood is …
