The Federal Reserve increased rate in 2022 and 2023 as the central bank sought to contain surging inflation. Now, in 2024, with price pressures easing and the economy still strong, Fed officials are poised to bring rates down at a slower pace. Because the Fed’s benchmark rate influences lending costs for mortgages, cars, and credit Read more
Federal Reserve Policy
Aftershocks: Impact of the Banking Crisis
The current banking crisis rolled on with two key developments in late April. The first was the release of several reports from the Federal Reserve detailing the errors that led up to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023, blaming poor regulatory oversight combined with an absence of risk management for the failure. Read more
Bubble or Balloon? A Housing Market Update
In January 2022, the housing market was at the hottest it had been in 15 years, with a run of new demand spurred by the loosening of pandemic restrictions. As remote work opportunities became more common, some buyers were looking for more space to work from home and found opportunities to move farther from their Read more
War in the Ukraine, Global Economic Consequences
The Russian invasion of Ukraine overturned a lot of expectations on the near-term direction of the global economy. The destructive military action and its subsequent economic and financial ripple effects have become the chief driver of the market’s swift, volatile moves (both downside and upside) since the end of February 2022. This volatility has spiked Read more