United States
IMF urges need for balanced budget plan in US
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday 7 January urged the United States to formulate a clear plan to balance its budget, saying tax cuts had given the economy only a modest lift.
Atlanta's Guynn looking to the long term
In a speech entitled 'Look to the Long Term' given on 5 January, Jack Guynn of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said more balanced growth will likely continue in 2004 as labor markets gain strength.
St Louis Fed's Regional Economist, January 2004
The Quarterly Review of Business and Economic Conditions, The Regional Economist, January edition from the St Louis Fed includes the article "Another jobless recovery" which asks whether the U.S. economy is undergoing fundamental changes.
Finance chiefs to meet in Florida on February 6
G7 finance chiefs and central bank governors will meet in Florida for a two-day summit from February 6, the US Treasury has announced.
Bernanke says current US money stance appropriate
In the speech 'Monetary Policy and the Economic Outlook: 2004' given on 4 January Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said that the Fed is right to keep interest rates at the current45-year lows.
Fed's Guynn says deflation threat low
Atlanta Fed President Jack Guynn said Monday the risk of wholesale price declines in the U.S. economy is now much lower.
Greenspan on risk and uncertainty in mon policy
In a speech on "Risk and Uncertainty in Monetary Policy" Alan Greenspan described monetary policy is an "especially humbling" activity. He also defended his tenure as Fed chief.
Bernanke on central bank communication 'Fedspeak'
In a speech on 'Fedspeak' given on 3 January, Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said the Fed could improve the US economy's performance by finding ways to make its objectives and thinking clearer.
Fed's Ferguson on lessons from productivity booms
In a speech on 'Lessons from Past Productivity Booms' given on 4 January, Roger Ferguson of the Federal Reserve said that there are signs that the impetus behind much of the recent robust gains in U.S. productivity will remain for some years.
Greenspan congratulated for good year's work
Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve and his colleagues havebeen praised for their work in 2003 by private economists in a survey.
Greenspan on widened trade deficit
Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve talks before the World Affairs Council of greater Dallas about the wider trade deficit of recent years, in the context of a prolonged bout of job loss in the United States.
International Research Forum on monetary policy
The second conference organised by the International Research Forum on Monetary Policy was held at the Federal Reserve Board on November 14-15, 2003.
Is There a Digital Divide?
The new edition of the San Francisco Fed's "Economic Letter" asks whether the region enjoys an advantage over the rest of the US in terms of the digital literacy of the population.
Big cutback at New York Fed
The New York Fed's Buffalo regional office has announced that it will cut 60 of its 130 jobs in a nationwide restructuring of its retail securities business, officials said on Thursday 18 December.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, November 2003
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) November 2003 was published on 18 December. The November CFNAI points to solid gains in economic activity and reached its highest value since March 2000 at +0.55. Three of the four broad categories of…
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Dec 2003
Activity in the region's manufacturing sector continued to expand, according to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's Business Outlook Survey, December 2003. Noteworthy increases were recorded for key indicators shipments, new orders, and…
Philadelphia Fed index rises dramatically
The Philadelphia Fed's general economic index this month registered 32.1 compared with 25.9 in November. It represents the highest level in a decade with more factories hiring workers than at any time since April 1973, the report said.
SF Fed says regional economy on the upswing
The San Francisco Fed said in its quarterly update on Tuesday that information from District contacts suggests that the pickup in employment is not transitory but indicative of a more fundamental change in business conditions. The San Francisco Fed has…
History will remember Chairman Greenspan
By reacting forcefully from 2001 onwards, Alan Greenspan prevented the Federal Reserve from making a third big blunder and set the stage for the current turnaround, this article in The Business Times says. "The Fed can never deliver the economy into…
U.S. inflation still no worry - Fed's Broaddus
In a speech on Monday 15 December Richmond Fed president Alfred Broaddus said a short-term rise in inflation would be nothing to worry about and the prospects of deflation were lower than a few months ago. "Accommodative monetary policy could mean, could…
Boston Fed's Minehan: Inflation pressures low
Cathy Minehan, president of the Boston Fed, said on Tuesday 16 December that the economic recovery seems to be "picking up steam", according to Reuters, and she suggested the Federal Reserve is content to watch the firming economy, without acting on…
Chicago Fed conf. sees US GDP up 4.1 pct in 2004
The Chicago Fed's Economic Outlook Symposium forecast an economic growth rate of 4.1 per cent for the US next year, Reuters reports. Chicago Fed senior economist William Strauss said the consensus outlook among conference participants was for the…
Foreign c banks' slow buying of U.S. debt - Fed
Figures released by the Federal Reserve showed purchases of US debt slowed by foreign central banks last week, according to Reuters. Total holdings of Treasuries and agencies for foreign central banks rose just $102 million to hit another record at just…
Kansas Fed's Hoenig appointed to Kauffman board
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's board has named Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Thomas Hoenig as a director, effective immediately, reports the Business Journal. The Foundation supports programs in entrepreneurship and education in…