Federal Reserve System
Bank notes: July to September 2025
A round-up of news and salient issues that have affected central bankers in the past three months
Professor says Fed must defend its post-Covid credibility
Jackson Hole speaker Emi Nakamura talks credibility, tariffs and independence
Firing Cook is not going to be easy, legal experts say
Some scholars criticise the US president’s move, but others say there may be grounds for dismissal
Trump tries to remove Fed governor Lisa Cook
President says mortgage applications by Cook constitute “due cause” for her removal
Powell indicates policy shift at Jackson Hole
The Fed chair says the balance of risks appears to be shifting; FOMC no longer plans to overshoot inflation target
US consumer spending resilience hides inequalities – research
Low-income consumers’ credit card debt has risen substantially since 2019
Eurozone unemployment stats may understate slack – research
Authors say they have created an indicator with important monetary policy implications
Book notes: King dollar, by Paul Blustein
A well-researched overview of the position of the US currency, providing an optimistic view on the future of ‘king dollar’.
Trump calls for Fed governor Cook to resign
Federal Housing Finance Agency director accuses the governor of mortgage fraud
On the eve of the Fed’s framework review
Experts speak about the Fed’s monetary strategy review, including the role of flexible average IT and the need to better communicate policy trade-offs
Fed ends crypto and fintech supervision programme
“Novel activities” programme will be folded into normal supervisory processes
National debt will push up US interest rates – Dallas Fed research
Long-term rates could rise more than 1.5 percentage points over next 30 years, say authors
Fed’s new leverage ratio: the horse that never left the gate
Most of the biggest dealers aren’t leverage constrained now, and experts are sceptical that banks will use the extra capacity for Treasuries
Low long-term real rates can increase inequality in US – study
Authors say low rates cause wealthy to invest more in their children’s education
Politics influences US citizens’ inflation expectations – study
Party affiliations help explain divergence in different surveys’ results, say Cleveland Fed economists
Stablecoin growth may decrease loan supply in US – Fed study
Bank lending could be reduced by $325 billion over next three years, author claims
Warren’s buffer plea is point-scoring, says expert
Professor attacks senator’s call for Fed to tighten bank regs, but echoes concerns about weak lenders
Trump picks Miran to replace Kugler on Fed board
Adviser set to take up role until January as president continues search to replace Powell as chair
US’s gains from tariffs diminish when countries retaliate – study
Dallas Fed authors say negotiated settlements may be best for all concerned
Fed policy may disproportionally affect largest banks – study
More leveraged US lenders experience sharper stock declines following rate hikes, Fed paper finds
US deposit insurance requires rethink, say experts
Dallas Fed study asks if current level is sufficient, while NYU professor argues for 100% coverage
Trump’s tariffs and the emerging market economies
Steve Kamin says EMEs are likely to escape the worst outcomes from capricious and chaotic trade policy
People: Bowman to chair FSB supervisory committee
Plus: New governor in DRC and Rwandan deputy governor steps aside to become PM
Trump should not have fired head of stats bureau, say experts
Economists say dismissal undermines trust in official data, along with president’s arguments and democracy itself