United States
Greenspan lost credibility says Soros
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, George Soros the billionaire investor said Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has lost credibility for driving US interest rates to a four-decade low and promoting tax cuts.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, Dec 2004
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) for December 2004 was +0.39, up markedly from +0.05 in November. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that comprise the index made positive contributions in December, while the employment…
Report says Fed to consider inflation target
Federal Reserve policy-makers will next week discuss whether to set a numerical objective for inflation and, if so, what it should be, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday 27 January.
When monetary tools start to lose their edge
This article asks what central bankers do when their monetary tools begin to lose their edge. This may be a question that the Federal Reserve is having to address at the moment, it says. The Federal Reserve's challenge seems to be that the linkage…
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Jan 2005
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey, January 2005, manufacturing activity in the region continues to expand, but at a slower pace than reported at the end of 2004. Many of the indicators, including general…
Fed's Hoenig says economic outlook bright for US
Kansas City Federal Reserve President Thomas Hoenig said on Tuesday 25 January that the outlook for the US economy is pretty bright and inflation should not be a major issue this year.
SF Fed's Yellen on the US economic outlook
In a speech on 'The US economic outlook' given on 20 January, Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said US inflation should stay contained this year, while the risks to price stability are well balanced.
Deficit triggers rumbling at Fed
George Bush's longtime honeymoon with the Federal Reserve may be ending, this article suggests. The new element is a rising concern at the Fed about the US budget deficit, which hit $413 billion in 2004; a low and declining national savings rate and…
Atlanta's Guynn: cbs adding euros for 6 months
Foreign central banks have been adjusting their reserves to add euros for the past six months and the process has so far been "very smooth," Atlanta Fed president, Jack Guynn said in a speech.
NY Fed's Geithner at the NAF's 2004 Dinner
In a speech at the National Academy Foundation's 2004 Dinner given on 8 December, Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said that improving educational achievement, access to educational opportunity, and the level of public…
New directors for Chicago Fed
Two new members of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's board of directors were announced on 10 January, as well as one new member of the bank's Detroit Branch board. In addition, the chairmen of both boards and the Seventh District representative to…
Geithner with a view from the New York Fed
In the speech 'A view from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York' given on 19 January, Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said the U.S. expansion has proven quite resilient and we enter the new year with what appears to be a pretty…
Foreign central banks resume buying debt says Fed
Data released on Thursday 20 January by the Federal Reserve showed foreign central banks resumed buying US Treasuries in the latest week, but cut their agency holdings for a second week.
Fed's Consumer Advisory Council appointments 2005
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday 7 January named eleven new members to its Consumer Advisory Council for three-year terms and designated a new Chair and Vice Chair of the Council for 2005.
Santomero on the economic outlook for the US
In a speech on 'Economic outlook for the U.S. and Greater Philadelphia area' given on 18 January, Anthony Santomero of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said the U.S. economy is in a "sustained expansion" with inflation under control, which should…
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, January 2005
The Federal Reserve published its January 2005 Beige Book survey on Wednesday 19 January. The report said U.S. economic activity continued to pick up in most of the country in late November through early January, but Cleveland, in the manufacturing…
Cleveland's Pianalto says rates must rise further
Sandra Pianalto, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said in a speech that the Federal Reserve must be "prudent" and continue to raise short-term interest rates until central bankers are more certain that monetary policy is no longer…
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Dec 2004
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey, December 2004, activity in the region's manufacturing sector continues to grow. In this months survey the participants were asked about the impact of the weak dollar on…
Fed's Bernanke on productivity
In a speech on 'Productivity' given on 19 January, Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said that there is an emerging consensus that productivity growth could remain at its current elevated level.
Cleveland Fed says US trade gap may hit growth
The massive trade deficit in the United States will eventually be reversed and implies a weaker dollar and higher interest rates, a Cleveland Fed report said, warning this could quell growth unless US exports grow.
NY Fed's Geithner on risk management challenges
In a speech on 'Key challenges in risk management' given on 13 January, Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said a set of pressing macroeconomic problems has increased the probability of shocks to global financial prices.
Philadelphia Fed Business Review, 4th Quarter 2004
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its regular Business Review for the Fourth Quarter 2004. In "Monetary Policy and Inflation Targeting in the United States," President Anthony Santomero returns to the topic of inflation targeting,…
St Louis Fed's Poole on GSE risks
In a speech on 'GSE risks' given on 13 January, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be required to hold more capital to cushion against shocks, even ones that seem unlikely.
Boston Fed's Minehan warns of slow recovery
Cathy Minehan, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, said on Friday 14 January that businesses continue to hoard cash, making the current economic recovery among the weakest of the past half-century if measured by job growth.