Economic Commentary

ECONOMY AND POLICY March 06, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses the latest market data. COVID-19 fears continued to drive the financial markets. Share prices were volatile and bond yields dove further into record lows. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) surprised the financial markets by moving two weeks ahead of its scheduled policy meeting, […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY March 03, 2020 The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut rates by .50% in preparation for potential coronavirus impacts. For the first time since 2008, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) opted for an unscheduled, 50-basis-point rate cut on Tuesday, bringing the target range for the federal funds rate (the overnight lending […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY February 28, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses his monthly economic outlook. At this point, much remains unknown about COVID-19. About 80% of people infected show minor symptoms, but 20% become seriously ill and about 2% die. That is less deadly than Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which had a mortality rate […]

ECONOMY AND POLICY February 28, 2020 Chief Economist Scott Brown discusses current economic conditions. The coronavirus has spread to other countries and the CDC issued a stark warning about the possible consequences in the U.S. Stock market participants appear to have entered the panic phase. Bond yields have plummeted to record lows. On Friday, Fed […]