by Richard Roberts | Jan 8, 2026 | FOMC, General, Inflation
America’s economic policymakers are flying blind with outdated instruments. While the Federal Reserve makes important decisions based partially on inflation data, the metrics utilized are plagued by methodological flaws that distort our understanding of the true...
by Richard Roberts | Nov 8, 2025 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy
On October 29, the Federal Reserve delivered its second 25-basis-point cut since September, lowering the federal funds rate target to 3.75%–4.00%. Moreover, the Fed announced it will halt balance-sheet reduction on December 1, a move that signals a formal pause in...
by Richard Roberts | Oct 23, 2025 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy
Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic spent much of the post-pandemic period supporting accommodative monetary policies to aid economic recovery. But persistent inflation, lingering tariff effects, and structural shifts in the labor market have prompted a notable turn:...
by Richard Roberts | Jan 11, 2025 | FOMC, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy
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, General, Inflation, Monetary Policy
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
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...
