The economy as a whole has proved resilient amid the highest rates in decades. But beneath the surface, many low- and moderate-income families are struggling.
Category: Federal Reserve System
U.S. Job Market Eases, but Hiring Remains Firm
Employers added 175,000 jobs in April, a milder pace than in the winter months, though layoffs have remained low and most sectors appear stable.
Fed Holds Rates Steady, Noting Lack of Progress on Inflation
The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged for a sixth straight meeting and suggested that rates would stay high for longer.
The Fed Tries to Steer Clear of Politics, but Election Year Is Making It Tough
Economists are wondering whether political developments could play into both the Fed’s near-term decisions and its long-term independence.
Is the Boom-and-Bust Business Cycle Dead?
There is a growing view that the U.S. business cycle has changed (for better) in a more diversified economy. To some, that sounds like tempting fate.
Japan’s Labor Market Has a Lesson for the Fed: Women Can Surprise You
Japan’s improved labor force participation for women is a reminder not to assume that job market limits are clear and finite.
Inflation Ticked Up Last Month, Backing the Fed’s Caution on Rate Cuts
Consumer prices climbed 3.2 percent last month from a year earlier, down notably from a 9.1 percent high in 2022, but still quicker than the roughly 2 percent that was normal before the pandemic.
Fed Chair Powell Still Expects to Cut Rates This Year, but Not Yet
Jerome H. Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, said policymakers still expect to lower rates in 2024 — but the timing hinges on data.
Rents Are Falling. So Why Isn’t That Showing Up in Inflation Data?
Pandemic disruptions may have muddled the measurement of home prices in government data. That could complicate the Fed’s course on interest rates.
Job Market Starts 2024 With a Bang
U.S. employers added 353,000 jobs in January, far exceeding forecasts, and revised figures showed last year was even stronger than previously reported.