Recent Updates
- China: Loan Prime Rate (Sep)
- New Zealand: BOP/IIP (2021)
- US: New Residential Construction (Aug), BOP (Q2)
- Lebanon: BOP (Oct-Dec)
- more updates...
Economy in Brief
U.S. Current Account Deficit Continued to Widen in Q2
The U.S. current account deficit widened slightly to $190.3 last quarter from $189.4 billion in Q1...
U.S. Energy Prices Rose
Retail gasoline prices edged up to $3.18 per gallon (+46.9% y/y) in the week ended September 20...
New Record High in U.K. Orders
U.K. industrial orders took another strong step higher in September...
U.S. Home Builder Index Rebounds in September
The NAHB-Wells Fargo Composite Housing Market Index rose 1.3% m/m (-8.4% y/y) to 76 in September...
German PPI Surges to Largest Gain Since Early '70S Oil Shock
Germany's headline PPI surged 1.6% m/m in August...
Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller March 3, 2020
The Federal Reserve lowered the target for the Fed Funds rate by 50 basis points to a range of 1.00% to 1.25%.
In the Fed's press release, it indicated that "the coronavirus poses evolving risks to economic activity."
"The Committee is closely monitoring developments and their implications for the economic outlook and will use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy."
The decision was unanimous amongst FOMC members.
The full text of the FOMC statement can be found here.
| Current | Last | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Funds Rate Target | 1.00% - 1.25% | 1.50% - 1.75% | 2.16% | 1.83% | 1.00% | 0.40 |
