Global| Aug 09 2005Fed Funds Rate Increased to 3.50%
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
The Federal Open Market Committee increased the target rate for federal funds an expected 25 basis points to 3.50%. The discount rate also was raised 25 basis points to 4.50%. This latest increase is the tenth since last June. The [...]
The Federal Open Market Committee increased the target rate for federal funds an expected 25 basis points to 3.50%. The discount rate also was raised 25 basis points to 4.50%. This latest increase is the tenth since last June.
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 ..."
The statement added that "Aggregate spending, despite high energy prices, appears to have strengthened since late winter, and labor market conditions continue to improve gradually."
Constantly vigilant, the Committee succinctly stated that "... pressures on inflation have stayed elevated."
For the complete text of the Fed's latest press release please click here.
Trends in Federal Funds Rate Volatility from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is available here.
Additional Slack in the Economy: The Poor Recovery in Labor Force Participation During This Business Cycle from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston can be found here.
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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