United States
Ferguson's banking expertise may aid Bernanke
Although Ben Bernanke will take the reins of the U.S. economy when he takes over as chairman of the Federal Reserve next month; Roger Ferguson may be the one holding the reins of the Fed itself, this article published on Wednesday 10 January suggests.
NY Fed's Geithner on U.S. monetary policy
In the speech 'Some perspectives on U.S. monetary policy' given on 11 January Timothy Geithner of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said the rise and fall of asset prices such as stocks, bonds and homes will probably play a bigger role in setting U.S…
Who is Ben Bernanke?
Of all the things investors can worry about in the new year, the Greenspan void has to be on the list, according to this article published on Monday 9 January. Bernanke faces not only the risk of unsettling the Greenspan bon ami in global markets, it…
Pianalto on childhood education & economic future
In the speech 'Early childhood education and our economic future' given on 10 January Sandra Pianalto of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said raising education standards will lift U.S. growth, employment and income and ease the fiscal burden of…
Bernanke Senate vote expected by 31 Jan
The full US Senate will vote on whether to confirm Ben Bernanke as the next Federal Reserve chairman by the end of January, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said on Tuesday 10 January.
St Louis Fed's Regional Economist, January 2006
The Regional Economist, January 2006 edition, from the St Louis Fed includes the article "A lesson in productivity for higher ed". College tuition has increased dramatically over the past decade, yet few think the quality of graduates has kept up…
Fed's Fisher: Globalization impact on mon. policy
In the speech 'Coping with globalization's impact on monetary policy' given on 6 January Richard Fisher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reiterated his vow to keep inflation contained, and offered again his concerns about the budget deficits the…
Fed's Hoenig on the national economy & mon. policy
In the speech 'The national economy and monetary policy in the new year' given on 9 January Thomas Hoenig of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said the U.S. central bank has pushed interest rates into the lower end of a "neutral" range and where…
Fed's Guynn on strengthening economic foundation
In the speech 'Now is the time to strengthen our economic foundation' given on 9 January Jack Guynn of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said the U.S. economy was on track for a third consecutive year of good growth in 2006, and it was essential policy…
Federal Reserve needs English elocution lessons
Once Ben Bernanke becomes Federal Reserve chairman after the bank's 31 Jan meeting, suggests this article published on Tuesday 9 January, a top priority should be ending the textual semaphore that's become the central bank's way of not quite…
Boston Fed's Minehan on uncertainty
In the speech 'How should monetary policymakers cope with uncertainty?' given on 6 January, Cathy Minehan of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston said the U.S. has entered a period in which Federal Reserve policy changes are increasingly dependent on…
Fed speeches may send investors in wrong direction
This article published on Saturday 7 January reports on research presented in Boston by Vincent Reinhart, director of the Fed's monetary affairs division, and Brian Sack, a former Fed economist which says Federal Reserve speeches "are the least accurate…
Federal Reserve Bulletin, Autumn 2005
The Federal Reserve published its Bulletin for Autumn 2005 on 5 January. The article 'Recent developments in the credit card market and the financial obligations ratio' says three developments in the credit card market contributed to the rise in the…
Fed may take pass at Jan. 31 meeting
According to this article published on Thursday 5 January, there's an outside chance the Federal Reserve could pass on raising rates on 31 January following 25-basis-point moves at each of the last 13 meetings. The next move skywards would put the Fed's…
Atlanta Fed names vice president
John Robertson was named vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on Tuesday 3 January.
Bernanke may have to grow up fast
Alan Greenspan's first major test came a mere 10 weeks into his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve, with the stock market crash of 1987. This article published on Wednesday 4 January looks at the challenges that could face Ben Bernanke when he…
Interview with Hans Tietmeyer
Former Bundesbank president Hans Tietmeyer said in comments published Friday 6 January, that it's too early to pass final judgment on the legacy passed down by Alan Greenspan. "He is an impressive personality. He is open to debate. You can use all…
Fed Reserve Bank of St Louis Review, Jan/Feb 2006
The latest edition of the St Louis Fed's Review for Jan/Feb 2006 includes the article "The Fed's monetary policy rule" by William Poole. The article "Are the causes of bank distress changing? Can researchers keep up?" says that since 1990, the banking…
Study shows Fed deflation tools can work
The Federal Reserve has several ways to boost the economy even if official U.S. interest rates were ever to hit zero, but the public needs to understand them to make them effective, a new Fed study shows.
Fed minutes signpost end to rate hikes
The Federal Reserve on Tuesday 3 January said it considers its 1-1/2 year long policy of raising U.S. interest rates is nearing an end, saying a statement after its December meeting aimed to signal only a few more increases were likely.
Fed can see an end to interest rate increases
Federal Reserve officials may be close to ending the series of interest-rate increases they started 18 months ago, according to this article published on Wednesday 4 January, though they will keep going as long as necessary to combat inflation, it says.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, November 05
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for November 2005 was +0.35, down from +1.02 in October. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index made positive contributions, while the remaining category made a neutral contribution.
Richmond's Lacker says rate decisions more complex
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond said Thursday short-term U.S. interest rates probably won't reach a plateau and then remain steady as financial markets now predict.
White House moving quickly on Fed vacancies
White House Spokesman Scott McClellan has said that the administration is moving "as quickly as we can" to fill the two current vacancies on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.