Friday, April 26

Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates

Fed Keeps Rate At 5.25
22Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Bit

Fed Keeps Rate At 5.25

Fed Chair Says Consumer Credit Market Is Normal September 22, 2023—The Federal Reserve kept its main rate, the Federal Funds Rate, unchanged on Wednesday at 5.25 percent. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said there was unanimous support among board members for keeping rates steady. He predicted one more rate hike before the end of the year then declining rates beginning next year. "Now we're fairly close, we think, to where we need to get. It's just a question of reaching theright stance," he said at a press conference on Wednesday. Specifically, Powell estimated the federal funds rate would reach 5.6 percent by the end of the year, come down to 5.1 percent in 2024, then further decline to 3.9 percent in 2025. The rate impacts mortgages, consumer credit as well as interest the govern...
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U.S. Inflation Inches Up To 3.7 Percent
13Sep By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Bit

U.S. Inflation Inches Up To 3.7 Percent

September 13, 2023—Consumer prices in the United States increased to an annual rate of 3.7 percent in August, up from 3.2 percent in July. Driving the CPI index higher was a spike in energy costs. Gasoline prices spiked by 10.5 percent from July to August while the cost of other fuels rose by 9.1 percent. Even so, energy prices decreased over the last year by 3.6 percent over the previous year. Meanwhile, food prices rose by only 0.2 percent in August and 4.3 percent over the past 12 months. The cost of used cars and trucks dipped while new vehicles cost slightly more. Observers expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to leave interest rates as they are when board members meet September 19-20. For specifics, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics release.
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5 Takeaways From Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech
25Aug By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

5 Takeaways From Fed Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech

August 25, 2023—Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a carefully worded speech this morning to the annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Kansas City Federal Reserve hosts the event. Moran, Wyoming, US, on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Here are the key takeaways from the highly anticipated speech: 1. 3 Percent Is Not The New 2 Percent With the annual inflation rate in the United States down to 3.2 percent, some observers have wondered if that lower rate would suffice. Powell made clear it does not. The target is still 2 percent, and the central bank will not end a restrictive financial policy until the rate reaches that. "It is the Fed's job to bring inflation down to our 2 percent goal, and we will do so," P...
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US Fed Raises Funds Rate By Quarter Basis Point
26Jul By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Bit

US Fed Raises Funds Rate By Quarter Basis Point

July 26, 2023—Citing ongoing concerns about elevated inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced today it is raising its Federal Funds rate by a quarter of a basis point to 5.25 to 5.50 percent. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the economy is weathering the monetary-policy tightening well, and the Federal Reserve is committed to achieving its target of 2 percent inflation. The current U.S. inflation rate is hovering right around 3 percent. The key to whether the Fed's Board of Governors would begin cutting rates, Powell said, would be when inflation comes down in a credible fashion, not when the rate hits 2 percent. He doesn't see the inflation rate dipping down to its 2 percent target until 2025 or thereafter, Powell said during the press conference.
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Currency Wars: Dollar Dominance Here To Stay? Maybe. Maybe Not.
16May By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Geopolitics, Globalization, Global Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

Currency Wars: Dollar Dominance Here To Stay? Maybe. Maybe Not.

China, India, and Others Vie For Status The United States has a significant economic advantage in having the U.S. dollar serve as the dominant form of global exchange. But several global leaders want to change that. China and Russia have long plotted to bring the dollar down. China wants its yuan to take over as the global currency leader. It's convincing trading partners like Argentina and Brazil to dump the dollar as a means for making trade and instead use the yuan. As Washington Post reporters Meaghan Tobin, Lyric Li, and David Feliba explained in an article today, Argentina's economy is in crisis, and its holdings of U.S. dollars are running thin. As a result, the government agreed last month to pay for $1 billion worth of Chinese imports with yuan. A New BRICS Currenc...
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U.S.: Another Debt Limit Debacle Looms Large
2May By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief, United States

U.S.: Another Debt Limit Debacle Looms Large

May 2, 2023—U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned congressional leaders on Monday the federal government might have trouble paying its bills beginning in early June if Congress can't come together on terms for increasing the debt limit. The U.S. government breached the $31.381 trillion limit on amassing debt in January. Ever since the federal government has been resorting to extraordinary measures to get by. As of April 28, the U.S. federal debt stood at $31.45 trillion. State And Local Governments First To Feel The Pinch In a letter to Congress on May 1 Yellen said state and local governments are the first to feel the pinch. Today, Treasury stopped issuing securities known as State and Local Government Series (SLGS) that help states and local governments comply with tax re...
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Banking System Is ‘Safe’ And ‘Sound,’ Fed Chair Says
22Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Finance, Investing, Types of News: Brief

Banking System Is ‘Safe’ And ‘Sound,’ Fed Chair Says

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell answered press questions on March 22, 2023. Rate Hike Takes Place In Environment Of Uncertainty March 22, 2023—Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell assured the public and press on Wednesday that the U.S. banking system is "strong, sound, and well capitalized." His comment came less than two weeks after several banks, namely U.S.-based Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank and Swiss-based Credit Suisse, failed. The Federal Reserve Committee announced today it is raising the federal funds rate to a range of 4.75-5 percent in light of persistently high inflation. Powell said the Fed would have to bring inflation down to 2 percent because "the costs of failing are much higher." The Fed's decision follows a similar rate increase by the European ...
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Economic Sands Shift: ‘B’ Is For ‘Beginning’
16Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Europe, EU, Eurozone, Finance, Investing, Global Economics, Types of News: Videos

Economic Sands Shift: ‘B’ Is For ‘Beginning’

March 16, 2023-Recent turmoil in the banking sector in the United States and Europe poses a challenge to governments facing inflation. Here's my take. Due to the lag effect of central bank policies, what we are seeing in the banking sector is a beginning not an end to financial troubles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyBfFctQYn4
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ECB Decision On Rate Hikes Marked By Uncertainty
16Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Videos

ECB Decision On Rate Hikes Marked By Uncertainty

https://youtu.be/VufZzhUGXWI March 16, 2023—In response to high inflation of 8.6 percent, the European Central Bank raised its three key interest rates by 50 basis points to 3.5 percent, 3.75 percent, and 3 percent. The decision is based on data collected prior to March 1 and does not take recent market turmoil into account. What's interesting is the ECB did not project its future path, noting an "elevated level of uncertainty." For more see ECB Raises Interest Rates Despite Credit Crunch.
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ECB Raises Interest Rates Despite Signs Of Credit Crunch
16Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Finance, Investing, Types of News: Brief

ECB Raises Interest Rates Despite Signs Of Credit Crunch

ECB raises rates by 50 basis points on March 16, 2023. March 16, 2023—The European Central Bank raised its three key interest rates by 50 basis points in response to persistently high inflation. That increases the main refinancing operations, the marginal lending facilities, and the deposit facility to 3.5 percent, 3.75 percent, and 3 percent, respectively. Those rates are up from 0.00 percent, 0.25 percent, and -0.50 percent in June 2022. The move comes in the middle market turmoil stemming from pressure in the banking system over recent rate rises. In its press release, the ECB noted an "elevated level of uncertainty." It takes place as financial distress hits the banking sector in the United States and in Europe. Two U.S. banks collapsed in less than a week, posing a ripple ef...
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