Federal Reserve System
Chicago Fed National Activity Index, August 2006
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for August 2006, published 21 September, was -0.18 in August, down from -0.07 in July. Two of the four broad categories of indicators in the index made negative contributions.
Nyberg on the Riksbank's monetary policy strategy
In the speech 'The Riksbank's monetary policy strategy' given on 14 September Lars Nyberg of the Sveriges Riksbank said as monetary policy must be based on uncertain forecasts of the future, there is a need to manage the risk that the economy will…
Fed vigilant on inflation says Fisher
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president Richard Fisher said in a speech on Monday 25 September that slowing U.S. economic growth should keep inflation under control, but the US central bank will act if needed.
Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Sep 2006
According to the firms surveyed for the Philadelphia Fed's September 2006 Business Outlook Survey, activity in the region's manufacturing sector slowed this month. Indicators for general activity, new orders, and shipments fell from their readings last…
Hoenig on the strength of the Federal Reserve
In the speech 'Twelve Banks: The strength of the Federal Reserve' given on 15 September Thomas Hoenig of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said it was legitimate to question the U.S. central bank's decentralized structure, but he argued the system…
Richmond Fed's Economic Quarterly, Summer 2006
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has published its Economic Quarterly for Summer 2006. The latest issue includes the article 'Inflation uncertainty and the recent low level of the long bond rate'.
Fed's Braunstein on non-traditional mortgages
In testimony 'Non-traditional mortgage products' given on 20 September Sandra Braunstein of the Federal Reserve said the Federal Reserve, responding to growing bank and consumer risks from "nontraditional" mortgages, is considering revising Truth in…
Fed, staying put, seeks signals for next move
This article published Thursday 21 September by Bloomberg says that the Federal Reserve's decision to leave US interest rates unchanged on Wednesday indicates they still want to see how matters unfold before doing anything else.
Fed appoints successor to Rich Spillenkothen
The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday 21 September announced the appointment of Roger T. Cole as director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation, effective immediately.
Central banker of the year announced
Several publications announced awards for the world's central bankers this week, including a Euromoney award for Lebanon' s central bank governor Riad Salameh for his management of the crisis during Israel's recent onslaught.
Technology diffusion within central banking
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Paper "Technology diffusion within central banking: The case of real-time gross settlement" examines the diffusion of real-time gross settlement (RTGS) technology across all 174 central banks.
Fed panel to discuss targets for inflation
According to this article published on the International Herald Tribune's site Monday 18 September, Ben Bernanke is stepping up his push for an inflation target at the Federal Reserve.
Fed wants to tell more, it's just not sure how
According to this article by John Berry of Bloomberg, published Thursday 14 September, the big hurdle for Federal Reserve officials is how they will shed more light on the central bank's inner workings.
Fed's Bies on Basel II and commercial real estate
In testimony 'Basel II and commercial real estate' given on 14 September Susan Schmidt Bies of the Federal Reserve said banks need to guard themselves against taking on too many commercial real-estate loans, and defended regulators' risk-management…
King plays straight bat in central bank talk
According to a study published Thursday 14 September by stockbroker ICAP Australia, the Reserve Bank of Australia's governor is easier to understand than his US peer, but both lose out to Mervyn King.
FMC report shows Fed governors get richer
The Federal Reserve Board's governors have grown steadily richer in the last year as President George Bush's appointments have reshaped the board of governors, research by the Financial Markets Center shows.
Dallas' Rosenblum on inflation rate measure
In the speech 'The trimmed mean PCE inflation rate: A fitter, trimmer core measure' given on 10 September Harvey Rosenblum of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said the Federal Reserve should move away from using inflation measures that exclude food and…
SF Fed's Yellen says rates may have to go up
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Janet Yellen reiterated Tuesday 12 September her concerns about inflation, and again said now is a time for policy makers to gauge how past interest-rate hikes are affecting the economy.
Fed's Kohn on evolution of retail payments
In the speech 'Evolution of retail payments and the role of the Federal Reserve' given on 11 September Donald Kohn of the Federal Reserve said technology advances and the increasing use of electronically deposited checks could spell the end of the…
Philadelphia Fed Business Review, 3rd Quarter 2006
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia published its Business Review for the Third Quarter 2006 on 8 September. The latest issue contains an article which reviews inflation targeting in developed countries.
Report says Bernanke wants more democratic Fed
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is trying to depersonalise the Fed by making its decision-making more democratic and easier to understand, The Wall Street Journal reported late on Friday 8 September.
Federal Reserve Board - Beige Book, September 2006
The Federal Reserve published its September 2006 Beige Book survey on 6 September. The U.S. economy grew overall from mid-July to late August, according to the report.
St Louis Fed's Poole to cast Atlanta vote
Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis president William Poole will cast the Atlanta Fed's vote at the FOMC until a replacement has been found for its president, Jack Guynn, who retires on Oct. 1, the Fed said on Thursday 7 September.
Fed Reserve Bank of St Louis Review, Sep/Oct 2006
The latest edition of the St Louis Fed's Review for Sep/Oct 2006 includes the article 'Do Inflation Targeters Outperform Non-targeters?' The article says ten years of empirical studies of inflation targeting have not uncovered clear evidence that…