by Richard Roberts | Jan 11, 2025 | General, Inflation
The U.S. economy is walking a tightrope. A fragile balance lies beneath the surface of robust labor market performance and sustained consumer spending, where persistent inflation, frothy asset markets, a growing budget deficit, and looming uncertainties could ignite a...
by Richard Roberts | Sep 28, 2024 | FOMC, Inflation
In a surprising move last week, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points, citing unconvincing and vague concerns about labor market cracks as the primary rationale. As I discussed in my recent MNI Podcast episode, FedSpeak: 50bp Not New Easing...
by Richard Roberts | May 11, 2024 | FOMC, General, Inflation
Monetary policy isn’t just about interest rates but the delicate dance of expectations and reality. In my recent op-ed for The Hill, I delve into how Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s messaging creates paradoxical outcomes that influence everything from inflation...
by Richard Roberts | Mar 19, 2023 | FOMC, Monetary Policy
In just one week, the U.S. banking sector has been shaken by two of the largest failures in its history. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) on March 10, followed closely by the closure of Signature Bank on March 12, has sent shockwaves through financial...
by Richard Roberts | Apr 17, 2022 | COVID-19, FOMC, Inflation
The Federal Reserve has finally begun its long-awaited tightening cycle, raising the federal funds rate by 25 basis points in March—the first increase since 2018. This move comes as inflation, measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, surged...
