Unemployment
Norway lowers inflation target and changes policy mandate
The new mandate emphasises the need for high employment and financial stability
Fed’s Powell expects strong US growth
Robust labour market likely to support income and consumer spending rises, Fed chair says
‘Job polarisation’ drives US men out of labour markets – Kansas City Fed paper
Technological change and globalisation reduce demand for skills of young and unskilled men
Philadelphia Fed’s Harker forecasts only two hikes in 2018
Despite stronger growth and lower unemployment, inflation remains too weak
UK figures reveal 1.47 million people out of work
While the employment rate has continued to rise, the rate of unemployment has increased by the sharpest level in almost five years
Higher inflation in the US pushes up yields
The headline consumer price index rose by 2.1% year on year
Powell faces balancing act as normalisation proceeds
New Fed chair likely to continue policy normalisation even as market volatility tests his resolve
Phillips curve ‘alive and will soon be kicking’ – Fed’s Williams
John Williams expects US inflation to reassert itself soon
Rates on hold after Yellen’s final FOMC meeting
New committee finds unanimity on rate hold, as Janet Yellen prepares to step down
FOMC will lose two dissenting doves in 2018
Kashkari and Evans were the only members who voted against the last rate rise on December 13
Demography, tech reduce US natural unemployment rate – paper
Baby boomers remain active longer, and older workers record lower levels of unemployment
Weak inflation in Nordic countries likely to keep rates on hold
Sveriges Riksbank and Norges Bank set to prolong their dovish stances in last policy meeting of 2017; Iceland holds rates
Income convergence in eurozone faltered before euro, research finds
Strong financial cycle concealed lack of productivity growth since 1990s in Spain and Italy, implying euro may not be to blame
Strong growth and lower unemployment allows Fed to normalise policy, Yellen says
Outgoing chairwoman adds policy is not preset and will depend on economic data
Most UK banks withstand ‘disorderly Brexit’ stress tests – BoE
Majority of banks unfazed by tests “more severe than the financial crisis”, but a few struggle with lingering issues
December hike in focus despite FOMC inflation worries
Some Fed policymakers fret that inflation expectations are too low to bring inflation back to target, but broad view is of an economy gathering pace
Sweden still needs loose policy – IMF
Elevated house prices, public debt and low wage growth are the biggest risks to the economy
Doubts emerge over RBNZ mandate plans
Acting governor Spencer says a dual mandate would have little impact, but expresses concern over a committee structure; former RBNZ economists weigh in
Poloz: standard inflation theories still work
Old relationships “are as applicable today as they ever were”, says Bank of Canada governor
German economic council urges ECB to tighten policy
Group of experts says stronger growth and loose policy could lead to higher financial risk
Tinkering with rates will not bolster New Zealand employment
The New Zealand government would do well to remember why a single price stability mandate was established in the first place
FOMC shrugs off hurricane damage
Rates on hold as committee judges economy to have weathered damage from two hurricanes
ECB may change composition of QE, researchers say
Lower levels of sovereign bond acquisitions may allow the central bank to extend stimulus into 2019
RBNZ faces mandate review under new government
Coalition agreement retains Labour pledge to consider shake-up of Reserve Bank mandate