Topic: Inflation

“Bust Cycles and the Fed”

– November 24, 2010

“In 2003, the Federal Reserve Bank lowered the Fed funds rate down to 1.25%. This was the lowest level that the Fed funds rate had been since 1954. Again, the low interest rate gave birth to the housing and credit boom. This rally or boom cycle lasted …

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“Argentina Seeks IMF Help to Start New Inflation Index”

– November 24, 2010

“Argentina’s government, in an unexpected shift toward economic pragmatism, said it was seeking technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund to design a new inflation index that could help restore credibility to official statistics. Econom …

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“Bernanke’s Raid on the Middle Class” – James Bacon

– November 23, 2010

“Twenty-four conservative economists and writers have published an open letter calling upon the Federal Reserve to abandon a second round of “quantitative easement” that entails borrowing another $600 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. “The planned asset …

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“Brazil’s Inflation Tops Estimates…”

– November 23, 2010

“Inflation, as measured by the IPCA-15 price index, quickened to 0.86 percent in the month through mid-November from the same period a month earlier, the fastest pace in 9 months, the national statistic agency said today. Economists forecast a 0.72 per …

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“Fed Adopts Political Tactics on Critics”

– November 23, 2010

“Faced with unusually sharp ideological attacks after its latest bid to stimulate the economy, the Federal Reserve now faces a challenge far removed from the conduct of monetary policy: how to defend itself in a hyperpartisan environment without becomi …

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“Brazil Economists See Faster Inflation in 2010, 2011”

– November 22, 2010

“Brazilian economists raised their forecast for inflation this year for the tenth consecutive week, as food costs pressure consumer prices further beyond the government’s target. Consumer prices will rise 5.58 percent this year and 5.15 percent in 2011 …

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“The Federal Reserve to report this week they are slashing growth projections”

– November 22, 2010

“The Fed has access to some of the best economists and analysts in the world, yet they still cannot make correct determinations on the state of the economy. In 2008, they continuously said we weren’t in a recession, and there would be no recession. The …

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“Central Bankers Give In, And Discuss the Dollar”

– November 22, 2010

““It’s hard to make a strong case” the Fed’s bond-buying program can now aid the economy through lowering rates, said Stephen Stanley, chief economist with Pierpont Securities. He said that leaves the Fed relying on the “secondary mechanisms” of moneta …

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“Bernanke on Perilous Ground for Fed Chairman” – NPR

– November 20, 2010

“Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is taking some highly unusual steps to counter widespread opposition to his $600 billion plan to jump-start the economy. He’s pressing China to let its currency rise and pushing Congress to pass more stimulus aid. …

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“Should the Fed Worry About Unemployment?”

– November 20, 2010

“One of the things most people don’t realize when they watch the Federal Reserve move the levers of U.S. monetary policy is that its leaders actually wear two hats. The Fed’s marching orders from Congress are to “promote effectively the goals of maximu …

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“What’s the Bigger Worry: Inflation or Deflation?”

– November 19, 2010

“If you get $1,000 per month in pension income that is not adjusted each year for inflation, then it will buy you $1000 worth of goods in 25 years assuming no inflation. But, at 2 per cent for 25 years, which is pretty much what we are getting now, the …

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“Bernanke Makes Case to Senators”

– November 18, 2010

“Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the central bank’s plan to buy government bonds during a private gathering with U.S. senators, responding to several days of attacks from Republicans who say the Fed is causing inflation and weakening the …

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