Gary Siegel

The University of Michigan's preliminary December consumer sentiment index reading was 97.5, compared to the final November 97.5.

With monetary policy close to neutral levels and no signs of an overheating economy, the Federal Reserve should move cautiously, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said Thursday.

The U.S. services sector expanded at a faster pace in November as the non-manufacturing index grew to 60.7 from 60.3 in October.

Initial jobless claims slid 4,000 to 231,000 in the week ended Dec. 1, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Private-sector employment increased by 179,000 in November, on a seasonally adjusted basis, ADP estimated Thursday.

Municipal bonds were stronger with Treasuries at mid-session.

The New York economy slipped in November, with current conditions falling to its lowest level since June.

Forward guidance and quantitative easing became important tools for the Federal Reserve in the Great Recession, but received mixed reviews as to their effectiveness.

The Treasury market has functioned normally despite the Federal Reserve’s balance-sheet reduction, according to Federal Reserve Board Gov. Lael Brainard.

The overall economy grew for the 115th straight time, the Institute for Supply Management reported Monday.

The economy will grow above trend, inflation will tick lower, and unemployment will remain low through next year.

Pending home sales fell 2.6% to an index reading of 102.1 in October, after a revised 0.7% rise to 104.8 in September.

Bill Merz, a director of fixed income at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, discusses monetary policy, when the Federal Reserve may pause and the yield curve. Gary Siegel hosts.

Interest rates are nearing the neutral level — the rate that neither stimulates nor restrains economic growth — Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday.

Service sector “grew slightly in November,” according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond service-sector activity survey, released Wednesday.

Manufacturing growth in the central Atlantic region “grew moderately in November.”

Texas service sector activity “grew at a faster pace in November.”

The consumer confidence index decreased to 135.7 in November from an unrevised 137.9 last month.

Acyclical factors may be responsible for core personal consumption expenditures price index inflation reaching the Fed’s 2% target in July.

Texas factory activity growth, as measured by the production index, “continued to expand in November, albeit at a markedly slower pace.”