Economic Commentary
Monetary cycle versus fiscal cycle: What is the difference?
ECONOMY & POLICY March 10, 2023 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. The Federal Reserve (Fed) conducts monetary policy through its main instrument, the federal funds rate, which is the rate banks charge each other in the overnight market. Quantitative easing/tightening, e.g., the buying/selling of Treasurys as well as mortgage-backed securities […]
Markets should not fight the Fed this time around
ECONOMY & POLICY March 03, 2023 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. The Federal Reserve (Fed) and the markets have continued to go at each other to try to impose their view of what needs to happen with interest rates and their views seem to be highly divergent. We have already […]
Income and expenditures in January 2023
ECONOMY & POLICY February 24, 2023 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. The January 2023 personal income and expenditures report was another confirmation that the U.S. economy is far from slowing down, even as the Federal Reserve (Fed) continues to increase interest rates in order to try to push businesses to […]
Retail sales confirm a strong start for 2023
ECONOMY & POLICY February 17, 2023 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. The economic numbers that have been released so far this year seem to be pointing to a strong performance for the U.S. economy. We still don’t know if these results are a consequence of warmer temperatures during the month […]