United States
Revisions to Fed's policy on payments system risk
The Federal Reserve Board announced on Thursday 23 September that it has revised its Policy Statement on Payments System Risk (PSR policy) concerning interest and redemption payments on securities issued by government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) and…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, August 2004
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index was +0.19 in August, down sharply from an upwardrevised +0.53 in July. The drop in the monthly index was due to smaller positive contributions from production-related data and, to a lesser extent, housing and…
FOMC Minutes, 10 August
Minutes from the Federal Reserve's 10 August FOMC meeting released on 24 September showed that with interest rates so low and inflation rising, Fed officials saw the need in coming quarters for a "significant" number of interest rate rises.
Fed won't let budget gap push up prices- Gramlich
Federal Reserve Board Governor Edward Gramlich said on Thursday 23 September that credible monetary policies can prevent large government budget gaps from stoking inflation, and expressed optimism that would be the case in the United States.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Sep 2004
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey, September 2004, activity in the region's manufacturing sector continues to improve. Although the indicator for general activity fell from its August reading, indicators…
Resolving US financial intermediaries
In the Atlanta Fed Working Paper "Resolving large financial intermediaries: Banks versus housing enterprises", the authors examine issues surrounding the possible failure of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Finding parallels between resolving insolvent large…
After Alan Greenspan, who?
This article looks at some of the favourites to replace Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Federal Reserve when he steps down. Because of the Fed chairman's enormous influence on the U.S. economy and global financial markets, the selection will be among…
Federal Reserve raises US rates
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 21 September to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 1-3/4 percent. In its press release the FOMC said despite the rise in energy prices, inflation and inflation…
Fed's Gramlich at the 30th anniversary of the NHSA
In introductory remarks to an event honouring the 30th anniversary of Neighbourhood Housing Services of America (NHSA) given on 10 September, Edward Gramlich of the Federal Reserve said that there's a need to expand homeownership for lower-income…
Study shows Fed's words impact on economy
The Federal Reserve's strategy adopted in the summer of 2003 for stimulating the U.S. economy without cutting interest rates was a clear success, researchers at the Fed have concluded in a new study.
'The Region' from the Minneapolis Fed, Sep 2004
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has published its regular magazine, The Region, for September 2004. In "An Economist's Viewpoint" Gary Stern speaks on the value of economics in understanding current policy controversies. The article "A Fork in…
Atlanta Fed economist sees GSEs taking more risks
U.S. mortgage finance enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are likely to take greater risks as they face stiffer competition from banks and regional Federal Home Loan Banks, a study by an Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank economist said.
US to offer anti-money laundering training
The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) will be the first US organisation to offer training and certification in the UAE to help Middle Eastern professionals develop their controls against money laundering and terrorist…
Poole on challenges for US businesses
At a panel discussion on the challenges for U.S. businesses which took place on 10 September, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said the large U.S. current account deficit does not worry him as it implies a capital account surplus,…
'No urgency' to lift rates says Fed's Bies
Federal Reserve Governor Susan Bies said the central bank faces ``no urgency'' to lift the benchmark U.S. interest rate while awaiting more evidence that economic expansion is steady.
Yellen on US economic and monetary policy
In a speech on US economic and monetary policy given on 9 September, Janet Yellen of the San Francisco Fed said the Fed's overnight interest rate remains well below the neutral level, so there is "a strong presumption that rates will need to keep going…
Cleveland's Pianalto: an economic perspective
In a speech on 'A National Economic Perspective' given on 10 September, Sandra Pianalto of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said US interest rates should rise to avoid future price pressures, but conceded that inflation did not pose a major threat…
Rate hikes can be measured, says Dallas Fed chief
Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert McTeer said on Friday 10 September that he believed further interest rate increases could be measured and noted that economic growth would be stronger in the months ahead.
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, September 2004
The Federal Reserve has published its September 2004 Beige Book survey. The report said that while the US economy continued to grow in late July and August, growth in several regions slowed following a softening in household spending.
Fed's Olson: Protecting financial infrastructure
In testimony 'Protecting the financial infrastructure' given on 8 September Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said that as a result of careful planning and considerable investment by both the private and public sectors, the financial sector is one of the…
Robust expansion ahead: Minneapolis Fed's Stern
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis president Gary Stern said Thursday that the US economy is likely to grow at a rate of 4 percent for the remainder of this year.
Fed's Guynn says price pressures won't be ignored
U.S. inflation has "stayed in a relatively narrow band" but the Fed will not take its eye off the ball, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Jack Guynn said in an interview with Bloomberg News published on Thursday 9 September.
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has published its Third Quarter 2004 Survey of Professional Forecasters. Growth over the second half of the year looks a bit slower now than it did three months ago, according to participants in the Survey. The…
St Louis Fed's Central Banker, Fall 2004
The Fall 2004 edition of the St. Louis Fed's Central Banker magazine has been published. The latest issue includes articles "Federal Reserve To Close More Check Processing Sites" and "Federal Reserve Takes a Lead Role in Supporting Check 21" which…