United States
Lazear may replace Bernanke on Advisory Council
US President George W Bush may replace Ben Bernanke with Edward Lazear as chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a report quoted sources as saying.
With Bernanke at bat, Fed will target inflation
According to this recent article, Ben Bernanke will devote significant staff resources to further study on issues he has spoken and written about, when he takes over at the Fed. And the advantages of his approach will become overwhelming enough in the…
Former World Bank chief moves to Citigroup
Citigroup said this week that James D. Wolfensohn, 71, who left as president of the World Bank last spring after 10 years at the helm, would serve as a global strategy adviser to senior management and clients.
Dallas Fed's Fisher wants smooth transition
Dallas Fed president Richard Fisher said on Thursday 3 November that the Federal Reserve should ensure it has a smooth changeover in its chairmanship before it starts debating issues like inflation targeting.
Greenspan questions gold holding, notes usefulness
In testimony to Congress on Thursday 3 November Alan Greenspan said why the Fed holds gold is a very interesting question and it's one that has been debated at length on rare occasions within government.
Fed may be on road to neutral monetary policy
The Federal Open Market Committee will make the 13th consecutive rate increase at its next meeting on 13 December, as it continues on its way to the so-called neutral level, according to this article published on Wednesday 2 November.
Fed Reserve Bank of St Louis Review, Nov/Dec 2005
The latest edition of the St Louis Fed's Review for Nov/Dec 2005 includes the article "An analysis of recent studies of the effect of foreign exchange intervention" which surveys recent empirical studies of the effect of foreign exchange intervention and…
Fed's Greenspan on the economic outlook
In testimony 'Economic outlook' given on 3 November Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said the U.S. economy has good momentum, but cautioned that the prospects for keeping inflation under control were more problematic.
Comment: Greenspan's parting shot
Alan Greenspan yesterday delivered his final Congressional testimony. Apart from an unsurprising, cautiously optimistic message on the short-run prospects for the U.S. economy, his parting shot came in the form of a stern warning to Congress that it…
The myth of the all-powerful Fed
Despite the outsized attention that any utterance from the Fed chair typically gets, the economic world isn't controlled by one person, or even one institution, this article published on Tuesday 1 November notes.
Fed raises rates, maintains 'measured' pace
The Federal Open Market Committee decided on Tuesday 1 November to raise its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 4 percent. In its statement the FOMC kept its 'measured' stance for removing policy accommodation and warned that energy…
Chairman nominee may bring new openness to the Fed
If Ben Bernanke has his way, the Federal Reserve is likely to become more open, according to this article published on Tuesday 1 November. His approach could lead to big changes in how the Fed communicates, it says.
Fed expected to raise rates again
The Federal Reserve was widely expected to raise US interest rates on Tuesday 1 November, as the American economy continues strong growth.
Alan Greenspan gives Ben Bernanke some pointers
This article published on Monday 31 October carries a supposed conversation between Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke. It says that, according to press reports, Greenspan wanted Donald Kohn to head the Federal Reserve instead of Bernanke.
Bernanke's models, and their limits
This article published on Sunday 30 October asks what Ben Bernanke's academic work can tell us about the sort of Fed chairman he will make. He has written repeatedly about ways of using dauntingly complex mathematical models of the economy to set…
Bernanke steps into Greenspan's shoes
Although Ben Bernanke was nominated as Fed chairman this week, he has shown in the past that he isn't a fan of the conservative dress code favoured by central bankers. Bernanke surprised George W Bush by wearing a pair of tan socks with a dark suit to a…
Central bankers welcome Fed nominee
Following Ben Bernanke's nomination to succeed Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve, central bankers were out in force this week to welcome the move.
Interview with Ben Bernanke
In an interview published on Tuesday 25 October, but conducted before his nomination to the Fed, Ben Bernanke said that there was so far little reason to fear that the sharp rise in energy prices would feed through into wider inflation.
Greenspan at the Dallas Fed Branch dedication
In a speech given on 27 October Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve said while Mike Kelley served on the Board, he was keenly interested in a wide range of issues that spanned the gamut of what the Federal Reserve does.
Fed pick Bernanke meets with Senators
Federal Reserve nominee Ben Bernanke began making courtesy calls on Thursday 27 October with senators who will determine his nomination's fate.
Greenspan on the Council of Economic Advisers
In a speech given on 26 October Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve praised the advice provided to presidents by the Council of Economic Advisers.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, September 05
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for September 2005 was -0.71 down from -0.09 in August. Two of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index - production and employment - made negative contributions.
Federal Reserve Bulletin, Summer 2005
According to the Federal Reserve's Bulletin for Summer 2005, the U.S. economy continued to expand at a solid pace over the first half of 2005 despite the restraint imposed on aggregate demand by a further rise in crude oil prices.
Comment: Talking points in October
October has been a month of change, with high-profile staff announcements at the Bank of England, the Swedish Riksbank and, of course, the U.S. Fed. Here is a check list of these and other topics that have surfaced this month and are likely to remain of…