At today's meeting, the committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point to four to four and a quarter percent and to continue reducing the size of our balance sheet. In the near term, risks to inflation are tilted to the upside and risks to employment to the downside. A challenging situation when our goals are intention like this.Our framework calls for us to balance both sides of our dual mandate. With downside risks to employment having increased, the b ...

like a. >> Big I can't tell you how excited I am. >> When was the last time we talked about the dynamics.>> I'm in. I'm I'm on the edge of my seat. >> Exactly.All right. Let's talk more about it. Joining us is Claudia Sardine, New Century Advisors chief economist and a former fed economist.Claudia, that that will be interesting, right. We'll see who dissents. We'll see how divergent the dot plots are.What are you looking for. >> Yeah. And I want to underscore that even in normal times, like we would expect ...

Mortgage Rates Overview - Mortgage rates are trending lower ahead of an anticipated Federal Reserve rate cut, with the current 30-year mortgage rate at 6.16%, down 12 basis points since Friday [1] - The 15-year fixed interest rate has decreased by three basis points to 5.46% [1] Current Mortgage Rates - Current national average mortgage rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.16% - 20-year fixed: 5.68% - 15-year fixed: 5.46% - 5/1 ARM: 6.65% - 7/1 ARM: 6.58% - 30-year VA: 5.78% - 15-year VA: 5.29% - 5/1 VA: 5.94% [4] Refinance Rates - Refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, with the current national average for 30-year fixed refinance at 6.20% [15] Impact of Federal Reserve Decisions - The trajectory of future mortgage rates is closely tied to the Federal Reserve's decisions, with a 96% chance predicted for a rate decrease at the upcoming meeting [13] - Mortgage rates have been falling since early September, but their reaction to a potential Fed rate cut remains uncertain [14] Long-term Outlook - Economists do not expect significant drops in mortgage rates before the end of 2025, with any potential decreases in 2026 likely to be modest [16][17]

Group 1: Treasury Yields Overview - The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was 4.06% as of September 12, 2025, while the 2-year note was at 3.56% and the 30-year note at 4.68% [1] - A long-term view of the 10-year yield shows significant historical context, starting from 1965, including the impact of the 1973 oil embargo [2] Group 2: Inverted Yield Curve and Recession Indicators - An inverted yield curve occurs when longer-term Treasury yields are lower than shorter-term yields, with the 10-2 spread being a reliable leading indicator for recessions [2] - The average lead time to a recession from the first negative spread date is approximately 48 weeks, while using the last positive spread date yields an average lead time of 18.5 weeks [4][6] Group 3: Mortgage Rates and Federal Funds Rate - The Federal Funds Rate influences borrowing costs for banks, which typically affects mortgage rates; however, recent trends show mortgage rates declining despite the Fed holding rates steady [7] - The latest Freddie Mac survey reported the 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.35%, the lowest since October 2024 [7] Group 4: Treasury ETFs - ETFs associated with Treasuries include Vanguard 0-3 Month Treasury Bill ETF (VBIL), Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT), and Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) [9]

Core Insights - The article discusses the current state of money market account (MMA) rates, highlighting the importance of finding competitive rates as interest rates decline following recent Federal Reserve cuts [1][4]. Group 1: Current MMA Rates - The national average interest rate for money market accounts is 0.59%, while top rates can exceed 4% APY, comparable to high-yield savings accounts [2]. - TotalBank currently offers the highest MMA rate at 4.41%, which is over seven times the national average [7]. Group 2: Impact of Federal Reserve Actions - Money market account rates are closely linked to the federal funds rate, which influences deposit account rates [3]. - The Federal Reserve maintained a target range of 5.25%–5.50% until September 2024, after which it cut the federal funds rate by 50 basis points, followed by two additional cuts of 25 basis points each in November and December [4]. Group 3: Considerations for Savers - Money market accounts are attractive for savers due to their combination of safety, liquidity, and better returns compared to traditional savings accounts [5]. - Factors influencing the decision to invest in an MMA include liquidity needs, short-term savings goals, and risk tolerance [6].

Summary of FOMC Meeting Minutes Industry Overview - The document pertains to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and its assessment of the U.S. economy, particularly focusing on inflation and employment dynamics. Key Points and Arguments 1. **Inflation vs. Employment Risks** - A majority of FOMC participants viewed the upside risk to inflation as greater than the downside risk to employment. Some participants considered the risks to be roughly balanced, while a couple of participants highlighted the downside risk to employment as more significant [2][7]. 2. **Payroll Growth Data** - The FOMC meeting occurred before the July employment report, which indicated weaker-than-expected payroll growth. The 3-month average of payroll growth was 150,000 at the time of the meeting, compared to a revised figure of 35,000 now [2]. 3. **Expectations on Inflation** - Participants generally expected inflation to rise in the near term but expressed uncertainty regarding the timing, magnitude, and persistence of tariff effects on prices. There was acknowledgment of potential lags between tariff increases and consumer price hikes due to various factors [3]. 4. **Tariff Impact on Prices** - Some participants noted that foreign exporters were absorbing a modest portion of the increased tariffs, while others anticipated that companies would increasingly pass these costs onto consumers over time. However, a few participants mentioned that companies were attempting to avoid raising prices due to weak final demand [3]. 5. **Economic Conditions** - The economy was considered to be at or near maximum employment, with a low unemployment rate. Some participants indicated that slower economic growth might lead to weaker labor market conditions, but others argued that this was not necessarily indicative of economic slack due to a decline in immigration affecting payroll growth [7]. 6. **Fed's Economic Forecast** - The Fed staff's economic forecast remained similar to the previous meeting, reflecting weaker-than-expected data and a slower pace of immigration. The staff projected a rise in the unemployment rate above the natural rate and a slight downgrade in inflation projections due to lower estimates of tariff passthrough to prices [7]. 7. **Balance Sheet and Monetary Policy** - The FOMC noted that the balance sheet runoff had proceeded smoothly, with reserves remaining abundant. Some participants expressed concerns that the rebuilding of the Treasury General Account could create pressures in money markets, but existing Fed tools could mitigate this [8]. 8. **Monetary Policy Framework Review** - The FOMC was close to finalizing changes to its monetary policy framework, with expectations to shift back to responding to deviations from maximum employment rather than just shortfalls, and to return to flexible inflation targeting as the main strategy [9]. Additional Important Content - The document includes various disclosures and regulatory information related to Goldman Sachs and its analysts, emphasizing the importance of considering this report as one factor in investment decisions [5][11][12]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the FOMC meeting minutes, highlighting the ongoing concerns regarding inflation, employment, and the broader economic landscape.

Joining me right now at the Aspen Economic Strategy Group Forum, Neil Cash Carry is here. He's the president of course of the Minneapolis Fed. And there is so much to talk to you about.I don't even know uh where you want to start. Um but maybe we'd start with what's actually just happening even inside the Fed because there's a new opening and then there's all the talks about the Kevin and what that means. And I'm curious as somebody who's who's on that board what it feels like.Uh it's uncertain. I mean ther ...

Economic Slowdown & Inflation - The economy is slowing, with housing services inflation gently declining, non-housing services inflation coming down, and wage growth decreasing [3][4] - Consumer spending is cooling, further suggesting a slowdown in the real underlying economy [4] - The ultimate effects of tariffs on inflation are uncertain and may not be known for quarters or a year or more [4] - The average effective tariff being paid at the border is around 10%, climbing month after month, but still short of the 16% headline rate [6] - It is uncertain how high core goods inflation will get and whether it will spill over into other categories and be persistent [11] Monetary Policy - It may become appropriate to start adjusting the federal funds rate in the near term due to the slowing economy [5] - Two rate cuts this year still seem reasonable, but the actual number could vary depending on the effect of tariffs on inflation [13][14] - If tariffs have a bigger effect on inflation, the Fed could do one or more rate cuts and then pause, or even raise rates again [14] - The FOMC is aware of the potential need to adjust course (cut and then raise rates) due to the uncertain effects of tariffs [17][18] Data & Credibility - The BLS data is subject to revisions and declining survey response rates, requiring the Fed to look at other data sources [21][22] - There are concerns about the credibility of economic data following the firing of the head of the BLS, but it is difficult to fake economic reality [25][28] - Wage growth is declining, indicating a cooling labor market [22] Tariffs Impact - Companies have not taken up prices in the way they did during the pandemic, possibly due to the complexities of tariffs compared to the pandemic [7][8] - Some companies hoarded inventory to protect themselves and their customers from tariffs [9][16] - The market is discounting that the tariffs, at least as we know them today, stay that way [12]

Monetary Policy Stance - The industry aims to keep longer-term inflation expectations well-anchored [1] - The industry intends to prevent a one-time price level increase from becoming an ongoing inflation problem [1] - The current policy stance is seen as appropriate to guard against inflation risks [1] - The industry is attentive to risks on the employment side of its mandate [2] Economic Assessment - The industry is well-positioned to learn more about the likely course of the economy and the evolving balance of risks [1] - The industry will receive a good amount of data in coming months to inform its assessment of the balance of risks [2] - This data will help determine the appropriate setting of the federal funds [2]

Uh thanks thanks Chel. Um there's a lot of lean in the markets uh and not to mention uh out of the administration for a rate cut now in September. Uh is that uh expectation unrealistic at this point.So as you know today we decided to leave our policy rate where it's been which where I would characterize as modestly restrictive. Um inflation is running a bit above 2% as I mentioned even excluding tariff effects. The labor market's solid, historically low unemployment, financial conditions are accommodative, ...