Exploring “The Powell Paradox”: My Op-Ed in The Hill

by Richard Roberts | May 11, 2024 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy

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...

After Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank: Are Regional Banks Next?

by Richard Roberts | Mar 19, 2023 | FOMC, General, Inflation, 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...

Did the Fed Wait Too Long? The Risks of Stubborn Inflation

by Richard Roberts | Apr 17, 2022 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy

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...

A Warning to the Fed: Inflation May Not Be “Transitory” and Could Spin Out of Control

by Richard Roberts | May 22, 2021 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Under Chair Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve continues to reassure markets and the public that the current inflationary pressures are “transitory.” This conveniently allows the Central Bank to keep interest rates low to ensure the economy is well out of...

Let’s Not Doze Off at the Wheel of Inflation

by Richard Roberts | Mar 14, 2021 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy

As we move further into 2021, the economy is rebounding from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment benefits, and unprecedented monetary policy actions have fueled a recovery that, on the surface, looks robust. Yet, beneath...

The COVID Shutdown: What It Could Mean for the Financial and Economic Landscape

by Richard Roberts | Mar 18, 2020 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy

As the world grapples with the rapidly escalating COVID outbreak, an unprecedented challenge is unfolding—not just in public health, but in the global economy. Governments and businesses alike are facing questions that will define the economic and financial landscape...