Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

Why the Inflation Confusion?

Popular Economics Weekly Most pundits (and propagandists) don’t know who to blame for ‘sticky’ inflation, so they blame those who haven’t caused it—such as the current administration or the Federal Reserve. But the sudden rise in prices of the past … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Keynesian economics, Macro Economics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Less Need to Worry in 2024?

Financial FAQs It’s time to catch our breath. Wars and protests can unsettle economies, but much of the economic uncertainty in 2024 is for more mundane reasons. The last few weeks have unsettled the financial markets, to say the least. … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What Should Fed Do–Part II?

Popular Economics Weekly Friday’s ‘official’ April US unemployment report was even more surprising than Fed Chairman Powell’s dovish remarks after the Fed’s May FOMC meeting, as if Powell might have known that April’s unemployment report would be weaker. It was, … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What Should the Fed Do?

Popular Economics Weekly The big surprise at Federal Reserve Chairman Powell’s last press conference was despite strong job numbers and inflation still above the Fed’s 2 percent target rate, the Fed governors are acting more dovish. Why? They don’t want … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Inflation Target Reached?

Financial FAQs Inflation is probably as close to the Federal Reserve’s inflation target of 2 percent as possible this year, according to its favorite inflation index, the Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index (PCE) that is the best overall measure of … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Keynesian economics, Macro Economics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Q1 GDP Growth Better Than Estimate

The Mortgage Corner The initial estimate of first quarter 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was less than expected, causing financial markets to panic, even though economic growth is better than the initial estimate is reporting. The lower GDP estimate … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Retail Sales Boost Q1 Growth

Financial FAQs Consumers haven’t slowed shopping, even during tax season. They keep boosting economic growth which is edging above annual predictions of 2 percent again. FREDretailsales Retail trade sales were up 0.8 percent (±0.5 percent) from February 2024, and up … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Inflation Still Declining

Popular Economics Weekly The inflation rate for wholesale goods and services (PPI) is still declining, which will hearten the inflation doves after yesterday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) seems to be stuck in a 3 percent range. So, the Fed has … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Keynesian economics, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

First Quarter Growth Even Better?

The Mortgage Corner The post-pandemic recovery is looking better this year, as higher estimates for 2024 economic growth come in. The job market is still hot, which is why consumers keep shopping until they drop, to use a common expression … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Economic Facts Can Win

Financial FAQs Here’s another reason we have avoided a recession. Regardless of the looming tax bills due in April that traditionally causes consumers to save more and spend less, consumers are spending more and saving less, per the BEA’s Personal … Continue reading

Posted in Consumers, COVID-19, Economy, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment