Economic Commentary
The new year and the elusive Fed pivot
ECONOMY & POLICY December 29, 2022 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. For more than six months, markets have been trying to figure out when the Federal Reserve (Fed) is going to start pivoting, that is, when is the Fed going to start decreasing interest rates. The markets know that more […]
The pendulum has shifted: The Fed has become extremely risk averse
ECONOMY & POLICY December 16, 2022 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. Extreme criticism of the Federal Reserve (Fed) over the last year and a half has put Fed officials on the defensive, which means that it went from a highly benign view of inflation (i.e., it is transitory, and we […]
Fed announces 50 basis points rate hike
MARKETS & INVESTING December 14, 2022 The latest adjustment snaps a four-month run of 75 bps interest rate increases by the Fed. As expected, the Federal Reserve (Fed) increased the federal funds rate by 50 basis points (bps). Fed officials reiterated its commitment to bringing inflation down to its 2% target. The Fed indicated […]
Why is this time different?
ECONOMY & POLICY December 09, 2022 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. Many have been asking this question since earlier this year, a question that has no easy answer. As economists – us included – continue to forecast the most ‘telegraphed’ recession in history, it is important to point to those […]