Beneath political clamor, economy quietly humming
November 21, 2016
Reports last week on retail sales and housing starts in October showed both activities surging.
Reports last week on retail sales and housing starts in October showed both activities surging.
Before last week’s presidential election the thinking among economic experts was that the Federal Reserve would be more likely to raise interest rates sooner — quite possibly in December — if Democrat Hillary Clinton was elected.
For some time, economists and the financial markets have closely monitored the nation’s job growth and the pace of inflation for developments that could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
The Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee meets today and, although economists don’t expect a rate increase this close to the presidential election, a move in December now appears more likely than ever.
Steady, moderate growth — that’s what the Federal Reserve and The Conference Board are seeing in the U.S. economy two weeks before Election Day.
In politics, there’s the “October surprise” — a revelation timed a few weeks before an election in an effort to influence the outcome.
Reaction to the Labor Department’s report that the U.S. economy created 156,000 new jobs in September went in all directions.
U.S. consumers, apparently shrugging off the caustic presidential campaign rhetoric as the election grows closer, more and more like what they see in the U.S. economy.
When will the Federal Reserve decide the moment is right to raise interest rates?
It’s as if the business world is clearing its agenda for the Federal Reserve.
Reports last week on retail sales and housing starts in October showed both activities surging.
Before last week’s presidential election the thinking among economic experts was that the Federal Reserve would be more likely to raise interest rates sooner — quite possibly in December — if Democrat Hillary Clinton was elected.
For some time, economists and the financial markets have closely monitored the nation’s job growth and the pace of inflation for developments that could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
The Federal Reserve’s policymaking committee meets today and, although economists don’t expect a rate increase this close to the presidential election, a move in December now appears more likely than ever.
Steady, moderate growth — that’s what the Federal Reserve and The Conference Board are seeing in the U.S. economy two weeks before Election Day.
In politics, there’s the “October surprise” — a revelation timed a few weeks before an election in an effort to influence the outcome.
Reaction to the Labor Department’s report that the U.S. economy created 156,000 new jobs in September went in all directions.
U.S. consumers, apparently shrugging off the caustic presidential campaign rhetoric as the election grows closer, more and more like what they see in the U.S. economy.
When will the Federal Reserve decide the moment is right to raise interest rates?
It’s as if the business world is clearing its agenda for the Federal Reserve.
