Inflation

Friday’s data showed economic weakness. Consumers, the drivers of the economy, pulled back during the holiday season and have exhibited weakening sentiment.

KC Mathews, executive vice president & chief investment officer at UMB Bank, discusses how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the economy and what he expects going forward. He speaks about what the incoming Biden administration and the Democrats' control of Congress will mean for the economy; and the Federal Reserve's stance and role in recovery. Gary Siegel hosts. (Recorded Jan. 7; 28 minutes)

A new period of social liberalization and economic excess could emerge by 2022, leading to inflation and a return to higher interest rates.

With its revised framework, it will take more than rising inflation for the Federal Reserve to raise rates.

The Federal Reserve's Summary of Economic Projections forecasts inflation won't hit its 2% target next year, and others agree.

The Federal Open Market Committee meeting this week will not offer the chance of rate changes, but will bring a new dot plot, and economists are most interested in the GDP projections.

Increases in producer and consumer prices on an annual basis, with a 0.3-point gain compared to last year may be a signal inflation will emerge and might force the Federal Reserve to act, economists said.

With rising COVID-19 cases and increasing local restrictions, jobless claims can be expected to continue rising, economists said.

Many predicted double-digit unemployment at yearend, but that won't happen, but even after vaccines are introduced labor market questions will need to be addressed.

Strategists from both Wells Fargo Investment Institute and John Hancock have low expectations for inflation going forward.

'Exceptionally accommodative' monetary policy expected as inflation remains short of the Fed's 2% target, according to BNP economists.

Bullard addresses coronavirus and the economy, University of Michigan consumer expectations drop.

Inflation remains low, while initial jobless claims continue improving, but the coronavirus pandemic looms large.

The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index (ETI) gained to 97.57 in October from 96.33 in September, but remains 11.1% lower than a year ago, the group announced Monday.

With the economy offering positive and negative signs, economists have differing views on the recovery.

The consumer price index has been rising for four months but at a slower pace, as the cost of food remains "elevated."

The Fed has been chasing its 2% inflation goal since 2012 and has yet to even come close to reaching it, thanks in part, to technology and globalization.

Consumers’ view of the economy was less pessimistic in August, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Survey of Consumer Expectations.

The dot plot will be the star of the meeting, but the coronavirus and the elections will be part of the discussion, economists say.

August prices climbed as the recovery from the coronavirus-induced shutdown progressed, but inflation is not a concern to most economists.