Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
At the right moment, Australia’s Reserve Bank would be wise to stop taking its lead from the US – holding interest rates here steady, even if they’re still rising overseas.
The Fed has a mandate that keeps its focus on the U.S.
AP Photo/Mark Lennihan
The Fed’s recent rate hikes are contributing to higher prices and growing recession risks around the world, yet there are good reasons why the US central bank has to keep its focus domestic.
A trader at a fresh food market in Nakuru Town. in Kenya. Food inflation has hit double digit figures.
Photo by James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The reality is that the US Federal Reserve has decided price rises must be addressed by raising interest rates. African countries have no choice by to follow suite.
Lower gas prices will put downward pressure on inflation.
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Inflation remained near a 40-year high due to a jump in the cost of food and shelter. But that might not mean the Federal Reserve will get more aggressive when it comes to monetary policy.
An estimated 20 million people will see their balances drop to zero.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
The US economy shrank for a second straight quarter. While some call that a recession or a strong sign of one, a financial economist explains why the term probably doesn’t yet apply.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated further hikes to come.
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The Fed raised interest rates the most in nearly three decades to fight stubborn inflation. A finance expert explains what’s happening, the risks and what it means for consumers.
Consumers are perhaps feeling inflation pain most at the pump.
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
A bigger-than-expected jump in inflation means the Fed may have to get more aggressive about interest rate hikes. An obscure economic indicator suggests it has room to do so.
Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
New treasurer Jim Chalmers was part of Australia’s successful effort to avoid the last US-led “great recession” in 2008. He may need to draw on those lessons sooner than we’d like.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell has a tough job in bringing down inflation without killing the economy.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
The Federal Reserve is expected to lift interest rates a half point at its next meeting and more in the coming months, but it may be too late to forestall an economic downturn.
Tracking changes in net wealth is one of the best ways to see who benefited from economic growth.
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The consumer price index, which measures everything from the price of peanut butter to gasoline, jumped at an annualized pace of 8.5% in March 2022 as inflation continued to accelerate.