Recent Updates
- US: Consumer Sentiment (Feb-final), Chicago PMI (Feb),Personal Income, Adv Trade & Inventories (Jan)
- US: Consumer Sentiment Detail (Feb-final)
- Canada: Industrial Product Prices (Jan)
- UK: Motor Vehicle Production (Jan)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
Chicago Business Barometer Declines Sharply in February
The ISM-Chicago Purchasing Managers Business Barometer fell 4.3 points in February to 59.5...
Goods Trade Deficit Widened Slightly in January
The advance estimate of the U.S. trade deficit in goods widened slightly to $83.74 billion in January..
Japan's Industrial Sector Mounts a Comeback
Japan's IP surged in January gaining 4.3% compared to December...
Aircraft Orders Boost U.S. Durable Goods Orders in January
Manufacturers' orders for durable goods increased a much larger-than-expected 3.4% m/m (4.5% y/y) in January...
Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index Increases Again in February
The Kansas City Fed reported that its manufacturing sector business activity index rose to 24 in February...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller November 1, 2005
The Federal Open Market Committee's unanimous decision to increase the target rate for federal funds 25 basis points to 4.00% was widely expected by analysts. The discount rate also was raised 25 basis points to 5.00%. This latest increase was the twelfth since June of 2004.
Today's press release from the Fed focused on the effects of higher energy prices. "Elevated energy prices and hurricane-related disruptions in economic activity have temporarily depressed output and employment."
The FOMC statement further indicated, as it did in September, that "The cumulative rise in energy and other costs have the potential to add to inflation pressures ..."
For the complete text of the Fed's latest press release please click here.
Implementing Monetary Policy, a March 2005 speech by then Fed Governor Ben S. Bernanke is available here.
