United States
San Francisco Fed's Economic Letter
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Economic Letter "Would an inflation target help anchor U.S. inflation expectations?" published Friday 11 August says countries with explicit inflation targets have done a better job at anchoring inflation…
Fed chief wants to improve communication
According to this article from the Associated press, published Sunday 13 August, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke wants to improve the central bank's communication, but it's not clear how he wants to do it.
Report says US considering inflation gauge change
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is contemplating a change in the consumer price index that may have an impact on how markets and policymakers interpret inflation data, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday 14 August, citing a government official.
Phil Fed's Survey of Professional Forecasters
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia published its Third Quarter 2006 Survey of Professional Forecasters on 14 August. Growth in U.S. real output over the near term looks a bit slower and inflation a bit higher than they did just three months ago,…
Federal Reserve - Annual Report 2005
According to the Federal Reserve's Annual Report 2005, the U.S. economy delivered a solid performance in 2005 despite a further sharp increase in energy prices and devastating hurricanes.
Fed probably will skip rate increase next month
According to this article published Wednesday 9 August, by John Berry of Bloomberg, the best guess is probably that there won't be a rate increase in the US next month.
Communications breakthrough reaps reward for Fed
According to this article from the Financial Times, published Wednesday 9 August, Ben Bernanke will probably be pleased with the muted market reaction that followed the FOMC's latest interest rate decision.
Richmond's Lacker first to dissent under Bernanke
This article published Tuesday 8 August by Bloomberg notes that Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond president Jeffrey Lacker disagreed with the Fed's decision to forgo an interest-rate increase.
Paulson to meet with Chinese officials
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson expects to meet Chinese economic officials sometime this fall, a Treasury spokesman said on Monday 7 August.
Kansas Fed's Hoenig on the economic outlook
In the speech 'The economic outlook and monetary policy: Challenges in the period ahead' given on 19 July Thomas Hoenig of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said monetary policy is "somewhat restrictive".
NY Fed's Rutledge on on compliance
In the speech 'Supervisory perspectives on compliance for international banks operating in the United States' given on 25 July William Rutledge of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York examines the challenges that globalization, financial innovation and…
New York Fed's Foreign Exchange Operations Report
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Treasury and Federal Reserve Foreign Exchange Operations quarterly report for April-June 2006, published 3 August, the U.S. monetary authorities did not intervene in the foreign exchange markets during…
Mishkin sees benefits in inflation target range
According to this article by Reuters, published Wednesday 2 August, a new study by incoming Federal Reserve governor Frederic Mishkin says inflation target ranges can help central banks sidestep political pressure to let prices rise and achieve low…
IMF to give emerging economies votes
Managing director Rodrigo Rato said the International Monetary Fund is ready to give emerging economies greater representation in the organisation with changes to members' voting powers in September.
Revised Bank Secrecy Act Manual
A revised "Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Examination Manual" has been issued. The manual, effective 1 August, provides current and consistent risk-based guidance for banking organizations to comply with the BSA and safeguard operations…
Paulson says appreciation would benefit China
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson joined Chinese officials on Tuesday 1 August in asking for faster gains to cool economic growth.
SF's Yellen on prospects for the U.S. economy
In the speech 'Prospects for the U.S. economy' given on 31 July Janet Yellen of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco said the current federal funds rate is "in a vicinity" of the right level even though news on inflation has been "disappointing."
St Louis Fed's Poole on Chinese growth
In the speech 'Chinese growth: A source of U.S. export opportunities' given on 31 July William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said the growth of the Chinese economy will provide U.S. firms with important export opportunities and U.S…
Words speak as loud as numbers for Bernanke's Fed
This article from Bloomberg, published Tuesday 1 August, notes that the Federal Reserve's 24-25 Oct FOMC meeting "will be expanded to two days to allow time for discussion of communications issues."
Rato on the IMF's commitment to low-income states
In the speech 'Renewing the IMF's commitment to low-income countries' given on 31 July Rodrigo de Rato of the IMF said donors should offer developing countries alternative sources of financing rather than just telling them to avoid debt.
Greenspan ghost writer gives memoirs 'pace'
Dame Marjorie Scardino, chief executive of Penguin's parent company Pearson, said Monday 31 July that Alan Greenspan had agreed to allow a ghost writer to help to "make [his memoir] more pacey - because Alan is an academic".
Mishkin says forecasts are central to rate policy
Federal Reserve governor-designate Frederic Mishkin said in a letter to a lawmaker released on Friday 28 July that interest-rate policy must be based on economic forecasts and adjust as new data comes in.
What Ben Bernanke could learn from New Zealand
According to this article from Bloomberg, published Friday 28 July, while Fed chairman Ben Bernanke and the world's biggest policy makers don't often pay attention to New Zealand, they would be wise to follow Alan Bollard's progress.
Mishkin to be sworn in after Aug 8 Fed meeting
Federal Reserve Governor-designate Frederic Mishkin will not take office in time to participate in the next Fed policy-setting meeting on 8 August, a Fed spokesman told Reuters on Thursday 27 July.