The equity market wants someone who controls inflation, but not to the point where they go overboard. |
The fact that U.S. officials cannot rule out further attacks will keep consumers here and abroad in a deeply uncertain state. |
The fact that unemployment is getting worse is not a surprise. But the fact that it's deteriorating at this pace is a surprise. |
The fears about SARS are a bit more alarming than the reality. There's so much excess capacity around the world that I doubt any supply disruptions [arising from SARS] would cause a real supply-chain problem. |
The fears we had that growth was pretty soft and fungible are basically coming out; that's what the data are showing, |
The fears we had that growth was pretty soft and fungible are basically coming out; that's what the data are showing. |
The Fed is fully aware that a slowly recovering economy needs to be nursed carefully back to health before the doctor sends the patient home. |
The Fed is justified in being aggressive. We're in uncharted waters here. |
The Fed is likely to continue to raise rates for much of the year 2005. |
The Fed will probably want to see signs of a firmer recovery before they jump the gun. They'll take a pass [at their meetings] in May and in June. They may start the [raising] process after that, but it will be gradual. |
The Fed will raise rates, but they're aware that higher energy prices might do some of their job. And inflation is not so high that they need to panic. |
The Federal Reserve and energy prices really have the fate of the economy in their hands. |
The GDP doesn't take into consideration loss of wealth, ... It's affected by jobs and productivity. |
The good news is that if so many people are entering the labor force it must mean that they are perceiving an improvement in the economy's prospects, ... The bad news, however, is that if too many people become optimistic about their job prospects, then the unemployment rate will continue to push higher. And the higher unemployment rate does have a damaging impact on consumers. They see it and they think, 'I shouldn't be spending money.' That's one of reason the unemployment rate is so important. It's the one that drives what happens on main street. |
The headline number is encouraging, but if you strip out the volatile components and look at core growth, it's telling you we're turning the corner, but we're not running around the corner. |