![]() | Fed's Beige Book Economic downswing deepens, says Fed Economic activity around the nation looks weak in early January Latest survey by the Fed of economic conditions across the country show that the few areas that had been boosters for the economy no longer offer any respite from the gloom. |
capitol report Fault lines emerge at the Fed over its new approach Policy differences are in the open between Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser. Plosser urges caution one day after Bernanke signals bank is speeding ahead with new policy. |
![]() | Fed chief: No recovery without more help Financial crisis persists, Fed's Bernanke says in sobering talk There will be no "lasting" recovery without more government action and additional money to strengthen the financial system, Fed Chairman Bernanke say in a sober address in London, and the timing and strength of the economic recovery are "highly uncertain." |
Central bank policy makers see grim specter Potential depression, deflation make FOMC grapple with new approach Members of the Federal Open Market Committee at their mid-December meeting saw increasing risks of depression and deflation as they grappled with employing new tools to stabilize an economy that was rapidly weakening, according to minutes of the meeting. |
![]() | Key rate cut to zero to 0.25% range Central bank chief Ben Bernanke and fellow policy makers vow to use "all available tools" to promote growth, including purchasing agency debt and securities in large quantities. Discount rate's slashed to 0.5%. |
Bernanke's blueprint for recovery In plain English, the Fed lays out what investors and consumers can expect as far as interest rates go, not to mention other moves it won't hesitate to take aimed at getting economy back on track. |
• Text of Federal Open Market Committee's policy statement |
Highlights from the Federal Open Market Committee statement on Dec 16 • The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to establish a target range for the federal funds rate of 0 to 1/4 percent. • The Federal Reserve will employ all available tools to promote the resumption of sustainable economic growth and to preserve price stability. • The focus of the Committee's policy going forward will be to support the functioning of financial markets and stimulate the economy through open market operations and other measures that sustain the size of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet at a high level. • The Committee is also evaluating the potential benefits of purchasing longer-term Treasury securities. |
Fed sets $800 billion plan to boost lending Fed takes new actions to ease borrowing costs for Americans, unveiling a plan to lend up to $200 billion to support the issuance of consumer debt like, and purchasing billions in debt and mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. |
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| Inflation, growth worries heat up Federal Reserve policymakers are increasingly uncomfortable about the inflation outlook as downside risks to growth have also intensified, says Fed chief Ben Bernanke in his semi-annual report to lawmakers on the economy and monetary policy. capitol report
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