Monetary policy

Some analysts wonder if lower rates will matter in an escalating trade war.

A former top Federal Reserve official suggested the central bank reject interest-rate cuts that would help Donald Trump’s 2020 reelection prospects, drawing swift criticism that such forbearance would jeopardize the independence of a Fed already under fierce attack from the president.

Despite trade issues, consumer confidence slipped only slightly in August, as “consumers have remained confident and willing to spend.”

While some Federal Reserve Bank presidents offered hawkish remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium, the markets still expect a 25 basis point cut, and analysts agree.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell again pledged the central bank “will act as appropriate to sustain the expansion,” despite “no recent precedents to guide” policy decisions.

Two dissents on the vote to cut rates were the first of Chairman Jerome Powell's term.

“A couple” of Federal Open Market Committee members wanted a 50 basis point rate cut at its July 30-31 meeting, according to minutes released Wednesday, while “several” would have preferred no action.

The U.S. economy doesn’t appear to be headed toward a recession, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Mary Daly said.

Every coin has two sides and that is the case with a possible September rate cut.

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren continued to push back against further interest-rate cuts by the central bank.

By the end of the week the municipal bond market should have a better idea of what Federal Reserve officials are thinking.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said recession risks have risen “quite a bit” and the central bank should be ready to cut interest rates again to protect the U.S. economy.

The debate over yield curve inversion continued, as a summer Friday yielded little economic data, but the market waits to parse the minutes of the most recent Federal Open Market Committee and then eyes will turn to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual Jackson Hole retreat.

The municipal bond market received a variety of data Thursday suggesting economic strength belying the recession forecast by the 2/10-year Treasury yield curve inversion on Wednesday.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard called current U.S. economic conditions “quite good” and said the goal of the central bank’s policy framework review should be to avoid a Japan-style deflationary trap.

This part of the curve inverted for the first time since June 2007.

While the consumer price index climbed 0.3% in July, as did the core rate, the broad-based increases are unlikely to continue, according to analysts.

While Monday’s data was low-tier, this week will feature several economic reports that will offer data the Federal Reserve will parse in advance of its September meeting.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York said it's looking for a diverse and highly qualified pool of candidates.

President blasts Central Bank and calls for more and bigger interest rate cuts.