United States
Phil Fed's Santomero on the evolution of payments
In the speech 'The evolution of payments in the US: Paper vs. electronic' given on 10 September Anthony Santomero of the Philadelphia Fed said credit and debit cards are rapidly replacing paper checks as the most popular means of payment in the United…
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, August 2005
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for August 2005 was +0.10 down from +0.28 in July. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index - employment, consumption and housing, and sales, orders, and inventories - made positive…
Fed's Olson on regulatory relief
In testimony 'Regulatory relief' given on 22 September Mark Olson of the Federal Reserve said federal regulators see no evidence of significant funding difficulties or problems with balance sheet management at banks in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Fed to publish Bulletin online
The Federal Reserve Board announced on Thursday 22 September that beginning in 2006, the content of the Federal Reserve Bulletin will be published on the Board's public website (www.federalreserve.gov) on a continuing basis, as it becomes available.
Is fiscal policy inflationary? Just ask the Fed
This article published on Wednesday 21 September asks whether US fiscal policy is about to upend the bond market? Market participants may well associate bad news on the economy with an increase in fiscal spending and lower bond prices, it says.
St Louis Fed's Central Banker, Fall 2005
The St. Louis Fed's Central Banker magazine for Fall 2005 has been published. In the latest edition Julie Stackhouse, senior vice president of Banking Supervision and Regulation, shares her thoughts about why lenders should engage in prudent risk…
US, China central banks to discuss currency reform
The US has said it hopes to have more discussions this week with China on its currency reforms and ways to reverse the United States' rising trade deficit.
Fed hikes rates again, but Olson dissents
The FOMC decided on Tuesday 20 September to raise its target for the federal funds rate to 3.75%. In a statement it maintained its 'measured' pace for removing policy accommodation and revealed that Mark Olson had voted to keep rates unchanged.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Sep 2005
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey, September 2005, activity in the region's manufacturing sector slowed in September.
NY Fed statement on credit derivatives meeting
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York hosted a meeting with representatives of major market participants and their domestic and international supervisors on Thursday 15 September.
Policymaking on the FOMC: Transparency, Continuity
This Economic Letter is adapted from remarks by Janet Yellen, President and CEO of the San Francisco Fed, made on 31 May. Yellen says over the past decade, the FOMC has continually re-assessed the costs and benefits of various steps toward greater…
Fed will raise rates and indicate more to come
According to an article published on Monday 19 September, the Federal Reserve's FOMC committee will increase interest rates on Tuesday, with financial markets gradually accepting that the effect of Hurricane Katrina won't deter them.
Report says IMF to cut US growth outlook
The International Monetary Fund expects the United States economy to grow less than previously expected this year and next, but will upgrade Japan's growth prospects on its upcoming world economic scorecard, German newspapers said over the weekend.
GSE bill vote seen this week
The U.S. House of Representatives may vote on legislation to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this week, a key lawmaker has said.
Fed's Fisher on banking and the US economy
In the speech 'An overview of banking, and the US and Texas economies' given on 12 September Richard Fisher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said Hurricane Katrina will not do lasting harm to U.S. growth and the impact on monetary policy is unclear.
Fed schedule suggests Greenspan January exit
The Federal Reserve has shortened its planned two-day monetary policy meeting for 31 Jan - 1 Fed down to one day, suggesting Alan Greenspan will leave the Fed then.
Greenspan successor to face tough economic climate
Until recently it seemed that Alan Greenspan's successor at the Federal Reserve would have a fairly easy ride at first. But according to an article published this week, that seems like a distant memory now that Hurricane Katrina has sent gasoline,…
Greenspan, the Wizard of Bubbleland
This lengthy article published on Wednesday 14 September covers a lot of central banking ground. Greenspan's measured-paced interest-rate policy is a reversal back to the Fed's tradition of gradualism, it says, but the debt cancer is spreading faster…
If the Fed stops pushing, might bond yields rise?
A recent article looks at the potential effect on the bond market if the Federal Reserve doesn't raise interest rates when it meets next week. The bond market could at last give us some of the higher longer- term interest rates that the Fed has been…
SF Fed's Yellen on the economy and monetary policy
In the speech 'Views on the economy and implications for monetary policy' given on 8 September, Janet Yellen of the San Francisco Fed said the best thing the Federal Reserve can do in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is to ensure the stability of the…
Fed may pause for political reasons
Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the outcome of the Federal Reserve's next FOMC meeting is up for grabs, this article published on Tuesday 6 September suggests. The answer isn't just a question of policy, politics may be involved as…
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, September 2005
The Federal Reserve published its September 2005 Beige Book survey on 7 September. U.S. business activity increased across the country from mid-July through August even as energy costs rose, according to the report.
Snow sees % GDP impact from Hurricane
U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow told Bloomberg Television on Friday 9 September that U.S. economic growth would probably dip by closer to 1/2 percentage point in the second half of 2004 because of the Hurricane Katrina.
Chicago's Moskow on the U.S. economic outlook
In the speech 'U.S. economic outlook' given on 7 September Michael Moskow of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said the Federal Reserve will face "a number of judgment calls" in assessing the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the U.S. economy.