Economic indicators

As expected, the Federal Open Market Committee cut the fed funds rate target 25 basis points to a range of 1.50% to 1.75%.

Consumer confidence remained high even after a dip this month, and a rate cut by the Federal Reserve could send it higher.

Reads of the economy show continued weakening, which will allow the Federal Open Market Committee to cut the fed funds rate target 25 basis points to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%.

The U.S. economy is sending mixed signals about the pace of growth going forward, said Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

Monetary policy may not be the answer for what ails the economy, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George said Friday.

While the economic indicators released on Thursday suggested a weakening economy, a deeper dive by analysts offers a different view.

While the economy continues to expand “at a slight to modest pace,” those surveyed lowered their outlooks for growth over the coming year, according to the Fed's Beige Book.

Consumers surveyed in September expected a rise in short-term inflation and a decline in medium-term inflation.

With talk of a possible mini deal on trade with China and the Federal Reserve announcing it will buy about $60 billion of Treasury bills each month to build its reserves, the 10-year Treasury note was yielding more than three-month bills on Friday for the first time since July.

Part of the problem could be “the apparent failure of mainstream economic models to capture fully the current reality.”