As the housing market strengthens, many economists believe that it could withstand an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve this year, pending stabilization among home prices.
Read More »St. Louis Fed Official Reviews Central Bank’s Post-Crisis Economic Policies
In a recently released white paper analyzing actions taken by the Federal Reserve in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, St. Louis Fed VP Stephen D. Williamson questions a few of the central bank's policies and the effect they have had on the economy.
Read More »Will the Fed Raise Rates in September Based on Recent Labor Market Improvements?
The Federal Open Market Committee stated in its July meeting that more labor growth is needed before the Fed decides to raise the federal target funds rate. Will July's job gains drive the Fed to increase rates in September after years of keeping them near zero?
Read More »Fed Survey Finds Mortgage Demand Picks Up; Credit Also Loosening
Banks reported stronger demand for mortgage loans and eased lending standards in a number of categories, suggesting positive growth in the second half of the year, according to the Federal Reserve July 2015 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices.
Read More »Fed Officials Say Labor Market Not Strong Enough for Rate Increase
Although Federal Reserve officials determined that economic activity is expanding moderately, the housing sector has shown additional improvement, and job gains have been solid with declining unemployment, the federal funds rate will remain the same at a target range of 0 to 1/4 percent, according to the Federal Open Market Committee July meeting.
Read More »Fed Likely to Raise Rates By Year’s End Pending Economic Improvement
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen had a busy week, making semi-annual appearances before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. In both hearings, Yellen addressed the subject of the much-anticipated federal funds range increase.
Read More »Interest Rate Hike Still a 2015 Possibility, Pending Economic Improvements
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen served as the lone witness in a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday titled "Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy.” In the semiannual report to Congress, Yellen was questioned about the highly anticipated rate increase, among other topics such the overall state of the economy, inflation, employment, and monetary policy. She maintained her position on the uncertainty of the rate increase until further economic improvement occurs.
Read More »Congress to Cover Economy, Monetary Policy, and Agencies’ Activities in Hearings
Two hearings examining the activities of government agencies and two hearings covering the nation's monetary policy and economy will take place in Congress this week. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen will be the lone witness in the two hearings on monetary policy.
Read More »Fed Chair Delivers Speech on FOMC Economic Outlook & Developments
Today, Federal Reserve Chair Janet L. Yellen delivered a speech at the City Club of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio speaking on the recent developments within the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and the economic outlook moving forward. Yellen addressed issues like recession recovery, labor market conditions, inflation developments, economic outlook, monetary policy, long-run economic growth.
Read More »FOMC Meeting Deems Economy Unprepared for a Rate Increase
Although Federal Reserve officials determined that economic activity is expanding moderately and job gains are increasing, the federal funds rate will remain the same at a target range of 0 to ¼ percent, according to the recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) June meeting.
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