Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

FOMC chair Janet Yellen revealed at a mid-July House Financial Services Committee hearing that rates would be raised upon improving economic conditions at no particular time.

In a recently released white paper analyzing actions taken by the Federal Reserve in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, St. Louis Fed VP Stephen D. Williamson questions a few of the central bank's policies and the effect they have had on the economy.

Meanwhile, median home price inflation expectations fell from 3.5 percent in June to 3.2 percent in July, continuing a downward trend. It is the second lowest monthly total for the SCE since it began in June 2013.

Also of note, job gains for May and June were revised upward for a combined total of 14,000 more jobs than were originally reported, according to the BLS. Smoke said the job growth in the last year, which has been consistently strong in the last nine months, has been a key reason for stronger housing demand this year.

Among the bills that passed in the Committee were H.R. 2243, the Equity in Government Compensation Act of 2015, which was introduced in May by Ed Royce (R-California). The bill passed by a vote of 57-1.

The Committee also determined that labor market indicators found that underutilization of labor resources have diminished slightly, and growth in household spending has been moderate, while the housing sector showed some improvement. However, business fixed investment and net export remained soft.

The nation’s top eight banks will be held to minimum capital holdings or face stiff surcharges, according to a decision made by the Federal Reserve on Monday. The ruling establishes minimum holdings among what the Fed dubs “global systemically important banks,” or GSIBs, the firms with the most risk-based endeavors.

In both hearings, Yellen addressed the subject of the much-anticipated federal funds range increase; Thursday before the Senate Banking Committee, she reiterated that more economic improvement, particularly in the labor market, is needed along with confidence that the objective of 2 percent inflation can be met over the medium term. She said the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) would determine on a meeting-by-meeting basis if progress toward that goal is sufficient enough to raise the rates.

"Almost all of our contacts noted a seasonal increase in their residential mortgage business, which was heavily weighted toward new-home purchases," the Fed wrote. "The rapid rise in rental rates was cited as a motivating factor to purchase homes. Little change was reported in delinquencies (already at low levels) and loan-application standards."

One of the key takeaways from the hearing, according to the Subcommittee, is that the Fed's newly granted powers under Dodd-Frank call into question whether or not the central bank's accountability to Congress, the Judicial System, and the American people.