After a couple of false starts, the past couple of months does have the feel of a more traditional recovery, driven by consumer spending and housing. The follow-through is the business response. |
Although a heightened degree of overseas job outsourcing is probably taking place, the phenomenon is likely exaggerated by newspaper headlines, |
Although a heightened degree of overseas job outsourcing is probably taking place, the phenomenon is likely exaggerated by newspaper headlines; in any event, the net impact on aggregate employment is positive in the long run, ... unwarranted. |
Businesses quite simply haven't been able to pass on the higher unit labor costs to consumers, and have the prices stick without losing market share. |
Clearly, wage increases are tilting upward. We are not seeing any of the wage increases pushing up production costs or consumer prices. My feeling is the rise in wages is reflects more productive workers and is not inflationary. |
Consumer spending is growing only modestly. So, it appears the easing of interest rates has helped the consumer only somewhat ... not a lot. |
Everything is in place for a healthy rebound. |
For those who are turned on by good economics and rigorous debate about economic policymaking, this is it . |
He spoke in detail about some fairly complex issues. The broader plan is to conduct monetary policy based on rigorous economic analysis and hard thinking about the economic concepts that go into the conduct of monetary policy. |
He was paving the way for another rate hike. He knew full well that with this type of language the market would price in a hike to a 5 percent funds rate. |
I expect employment to increase, but I also expect the unemployment rate to remain pretty high. We'll get [the rate lower], but it will take time. |
I think the Fed's going to be on hold at the next meeting, |
I think the Fed's going to be on hold at the next meeting. |
I think they're likely to lower the funds rate 25 basis points and the reason is when they sit around the FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee] table, I think they will perceive that the risk to the economy and financial markets are still to the down side, but it's not a slam dunk, |
I think they're likely to lower the funds rate 25 basis points and the reason is when they sit around the FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee] table, I think they will perceive that the risk to the economy and financial markets are still to the down side, but it's not a slam dunk. |