The economy may well be able to continue growing and avoid another slump, but the recovery is unlikely to gain much momentum in 2013.
Federal Reserve
As the Fiscal Cliff Nears, Will Anyone Swerve?
Why It’s Time for Central Bankers to Say: ‘No More!’
Easy money and central-bank intervention are not the answers to the stumbling global recovery
Unemployment Rate Ticks Up to 8.3% — But There’s Good News, Too
The unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in July, but it’s probably the most hopeful jobs report in months.
Will Ben Bernanke Pull the Trigger on More Bond Buying?
The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy brain trust – the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) — meets again today, and after a month of disappointing economic news following June’s meeting, the financial world is eagerly …
The Big New Idea for Saving the Euro
Giving Europe’s bailout fund a banking license would provide massive firepower to help flailing states, but proposal must first overcome deep German skepticism
Money Talking: Has the Fed Run out of Tools?
Does the Fed have any weapons still left in it’s arsenal to help the economy? How much will the drought drive up food prices this year? For thoughts on this, as well as how much steam the U.S. Manufacturing boom still has left, check out WNYC’s Money Talking with myself and Joe Nocera.
Former TARP Official: Both Parties are Captive to the Big Banks
While the current presidential race has predictably devolved into a series food fights over tax returns and awkward speech wordings, the nation’s economy limps weakly along. In addition, the causes of the 2008 financial crisis …
LIBOR Rigging: What the Regulators Saw (but Didn’t Shut Down)
Why weren’t the first signs taken more seriously? Has there been a serious failure of regulation, or are there strong mitigating circumstances that could explain and justify the lack of resolute action?
U.S. Economy Adds Just 80,000 Jobs in June
The Labor Department released its monthly Employment Situation Report this morning, announcing that the economy added 80,000 new jobs in June – slightly less than what economists were predicting, and far too small a number to …
Does Ben Bernanke Have Any Ammo Left?
The Federal Reserve can’t seem to get any love these days. Within hours of the bank’s announcement that it would lower its growth and employment forecasts and continue its “Operation Twist” bond-buying program through the end …
Dire Jobs Report Throws Washington into the Pressure Cooker
It’s bad, man. The May unemployment report released Friday morning didn’t just announce one month of lethargic job growth–69,000 added, fewer than necessary to even keep up with population growth. The government’s regular estimates can be off by enough to turn whispers of doom to shouts of joy. These things are fickle. But …