The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood Blog
New York NY, the Federal Reserve held its key interest rate in check Wednesday, reversing a recent trend of easing policy as it examines what is likely to be a bumpy political and economic landscape ahead.In a widely anticipated move, the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee left unchanged its overnight borrowing rate in a range between 4.25%-4.5%.
Continue reading Fed Holds Rates Steady, Statement Suggests Less Confident View on Inflation
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell confirmed a quarter-percentage-point rate cut, bringing the federal funds rate to a range of 4.5% to 4.75%. This is the second rate cut in recent months as the Fed aims to navigate a complex economic landscape. Another potential cut is on the table for December, depending on the economic climate as the year ends.
Continue reading Federal Reserve Cuts Rates Again Amid Economic Balancing Act
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, the Federal Reserve has opted to maintain interest rates at current levels amid a backdrop of rising inflation and a resilient labor market, signaling that potential rate cuts are likely to be postponed further into the year.
Continue reading The Fed Holds Off on Rate Cuts Citing ‘lack of further progress’ On Inflation
Washington DC, Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement :
“Indicators of economic activity and employment have continued to strengthen. Job gains have been strong in recent months, and the unemployment rate has declined substantially. Inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic, higher energy prices, and broader price pressures.”
By Charles Stampul
Stocks declined sharply yesterday in response to the release of FOMC meeting minutes showing a commitment to increase (or normalize) rates sooner than expected.
Continue reading Fed Accelerating Rate Hikes to Cut Again Soon
Fed Chair Yellen had a health scare during a speech, but she’s feeling fine now
Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen gave a scare Thursday while giving a speech on monetary policy and inflation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Near the end of her prepared remarks, Yellen appeared to be experiencing some physical discomfort. She paused several times to cough before saying she would stop.
“[I]f the economy surprises us, our judgments about appropriate monetary policy will change,” she said. “Let me stop there. Thank you.”
She gathered her notes, gave several smiles, and stuck around to be presented with a gift before she made her way offstage.
Several news outlets reported that she proceeded to receive medical attention, but now she seems to be in the clear.
https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-chair-receiving-medical-attention-2015-9
Sep 16, 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement as the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) begins their September meeting:
“As the ridiculous amount of attention on this week’s FOMC meeting proves, the performance of our economy and the financial markets is increasingly dependent on a group of unelected bureaucrats at the Federal Reserve. Chair Yellen and her predecessors claim that the Fed’s monetary policy decisions are based upon objective criteria, yet traders, lenders, economists, and other market participants anxiously wait to probe and dissect every word in the FOMC statement.
“There is a problem when more Americans are looking to a secret Fed meeting for economic indicators than the actual financial markets. We need to scale back the undue influence that the Federal Reserve and other central bankers have on our economy by following what has worked in the past: a rules-based monetary policy that fosters greater certainty and leads to longer periods of sustained economic growth.”