Recent Updates
- China: Foreign Reserves (Feb)
- US: Employment Situation (Feb), Intl Trade (Jan)
- US: Establishment Survey Detail (Feb)
- US: Household Survey Detail (Feb)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
U.S. Consumer Credit Outstanding Declines in January
Consumers reduced credit balances further in January...
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens to $68.2 Billion in January
The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened to $68.2 billion in January...
German Order Growth Gets Back in Gear Despite the Headwinds
German order growth is back in gear with total orders rising by 1.4% m/m in January...
U.S. Factory Orders & Shipments Rise Again in January
Manufacturing activity is strengthening. Factory orders rose 2.6% (2.8% y/y) in January...
U.S. Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Rise Just 9,000
Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose modestly by 9,000 to 745,000 in the week ended February 27...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller June 30, 2005
The Federal Open Market Committee increased interest rates for the ninth time since last June. The target rate for federal funds was raised an expected 25 basis points to 3.25% and the discount rate was raised 25 basis points to 4.25%.
The decision was unanimous.
Today's press release from the Fed continued to contain a comment suggesting that rates could be raised again. "The Committee believes that, even after this action, the stance of monetary policy remains accommodative ..."
For emphasis the statement indicated that "with appropriate monetary policy action, the upside and downside risks to the attainment of both sustainable growth and price stability should be kept roughly equal."
Discretion was indicated with the comment "the Committee will respond to changes in economic prospects as needed to fulfill its obligation to maintain price stability."
For the complete text of the Fed's latest press release please click here.
A Search for a Structural Phillips Curve from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York can be found here.