Unemployment Rose To 4.2% In July As Hiring Fell Sharplyhttps://t.co/2yLn9FHy0l https://t.co/RCCkpZFNb2 ...

Monetary Policy Stance - The Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave the policy interest rate unchanged, believing the current stance is well-positioned to respond to potential economic developments [2] - The committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 4 and 1/4 to 4 and 1/2% and to continue reducing the size of the balance sheet [8] - The current policy stance is seen as appropriate to guard against inflation risks [10] Economic Activity - Recent indicators suggest that growth of economic activity has moderated [3] - GDP rose at a 12% pace in the first half of this year, down from 25% last year [3] - Payroll job gains averaged 150000 per month over the past 3 months, with the unemployment rate at 41% remaining low [4] - Business investment in equipment and intangibles picked up from last year's pace, while activity in the housing sector remains weak [4] Inflation - Inflation has eased significantly from its highs in mid-2022, but remains somewhat elevated relative to the 2% longer-run goal [5] - Total PCE prices rose 25% over the 12 months ending in June, and core PCE prices rose 27% [6] - Near-term measures of inflation expectations have moved up on balance over the course of this year on news about tariffs [7] - Higher tariffs have begun to show through more clearly to prices of some goods, but their overall effects on economic activity and inflation remain to be seen [9] Labor Market - Conditions in the labor market are broadly in balance and consistent with maximum employment [5] - Wage growth has continued to moderate while still outpacing inflation [5]

Monetary Policy - The Federal Reserve maintained the interest rate range at 425 to 450 basis points [1] - Two governors dissented, favoring a 25 basis point rate cut [1] - Nine votes supported holding rates steady [2] Economic Outlook - Economic growth moderated in the first half of the year [3] - Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated [3][4] - Inflation remains somewhat elevated [4] - The labor market is solid with low unemployment [4] Forward Guidance - The statement does not hint at an imminent rate cut in September [5] - The committee is attentive to risks on both sides of the mandate [4] - Swings in exports continue to affect the data [2]

Monetary Policy Stance - The Federal Reserve decided to leave interest rates unchanged, maintaining the range of 425% to 450% [1] - Two governors dissented, favoring a 025% rate cut [1] - It marks the first time since 1993 that two governors have dissented [2] - Nine votes supported keeping rates on hold [2] Economic Assessment - Export fluctuations continue to impact the data [3] - Growth moderated in the first half of the year [3] - Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated [3][4] - The Fed removed "diminished" from the statement, indicating continued high uncertainty [4] - Inflation remains somewhat elevated [4] - Unemployment is low, and the labor market is solid [4] Forward Guidance - The committee has attended to the risks on both sides of the mandate [5] - The statement does not hint at an imminent rate cut in September [5]

Career Strategy - The article discusses a critical decision point for unemployed individuals: whether to simultaneously pursue launching a business and seeking full-time employment, or to focus solely on one option [1] - It presents the dilemma of hedging bets versus committing fully to a single path during unemployment [1]

Career Strategy - The report discusses a critical decision point for unemployed individuals: whether to simultaneously pursue launching a business and seeking full-time employment, or to focus solely on one option [1] - The analysis centers on the strategic choice between hedging bets with multiple options versus concentrating efforts on a single path [1]

Did you know that it doesn't matter whether a young man went to college or not in terms of getting a job. Kind of crazy, right. Let me explain.My friend Boring Biz points out that male college grads are now just as likely to be unemployed as people who never went to college. Now, that's for men. The same's not true for women.Women are much more likely to land a job once they graduate from college, which makes sense. But this brings us back to the eye-opening data around men. We're leaving these young men be ...

Career Strategy - The article discusses a critical decision point for unemployed individuals: whether to simultaneously pursue launching a business and seeking full-time employment, or to concentrate efforts on a single path [1] - It presents two options: hedging bets by exploring both avenues or focusing entirely on one option [1]

Monetary Policy & Economic Goals - The Fed is mandated to pursue price stability and maximum employment [1] - Fed officials should make fact-based judgments [1] - The Fed aims to stay out of politics and avoid short-term political pressures [2] - The Fed strives to behave in a nonpartisan way [2] Inflation & Labor Market - US inflation is coming down and approaching the Fed's 2% goal [3] - The US unemployment rate is at 4.1% [3] - The post-pandemic surge in price pressures was experienced by the US and other developed countries [3] Fed's Independence & Track Record - The Fed has generally maintained independence over decades [2] - The Fed's track record has been successful [2]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The discussion primarily revolves around the impact of trade policies and tariffs on the U.S. economy and global markets, particularly in relation to President Trump's administration and its trade strategies [1][5][21]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Tariff Policy Changes**: - An increase in the "reciprocal" tariff rate from 10% to 15% is anticipated, while the 25% pharma tariff is expected to be delayed until after the 2026 midterm elections. This suggests an average effective tariff rate increase of about 14 percentage points in 2025, with a further rise to nearly 20% in 2026 [1][5]. 2. **Inflation Impact**: - The tariffs have begun to affect inflation, with estimates indicating that 60% of the tariffs implemented in February have passed through, raising the core PCE price index by 0.2%. A further 1.2% price level increase is expected, leading to a year-on-year core PCE inflation rate above 3% in the second half of the year [5][10]. 3. **Consumer Spending Trends**: - Real personal consumption has stagnated for six months, a rare occurrence outside of recession periods. This stagnation, coupled with a sharp decline in housing activity, has led to a downward revision of the H1 real GDP growth estimate to 1.1%, which is about a percentage point below potential [10][12]. 4. **Labor Market Dynamics**: - Private payroll growth has slowed significantly, with only 74,000 jobs added in June. The labor market is showing signs of weakness, with a risk of hitting "stall speed," where job creation is insufficient to maintain low unemployment rates [14][16]. 5. **Monetary Policy Outlook**: - The slowdown in economic activity has strengthened the case for earlier monetary policy easing. A forecast of three consecutive 25 basis point cuts is expected starting in September, bringing the funds rate down to 3.5%-3.75% by the end of 2025 [16][18]. 6. **Risks to Economic Forecasts**: - There are concerns regarding the independence of the Federal Reserve, which could destabilize long-term inflation expectations. A potential threat to Fed independence could arise from political pressures, particularly from the Trump administration [20][23]. 7. **Global Economic Implications**: - A 30% U.S. tariff on imports from Europe could reduce Euro area GDP by 0.5% by the end of 2026. However, there is cautious optimism regarding Euro area growth due to fiscal expansion in Germany and strength in Spain [21][24]. 8. **China's Economic Situation**: - China's GDP growth has exceeded expectations, but there are concerns about a potential "second China shock" affecting global manufacturing employment. Calls for higher trade barriers against China are likely to increase, although the effectiveness of such measures is debated [26][28]. Additional Important Insights - The report emphasizes that the current economic conditions are influenced by a combination of tariff impacts, consumer behavior, and labor market trends, which collectively shape the outlook for both the U.S. and global economies [10][14][26]. - The potential for a cyclical upturn in Germany and continued strength in Spain is noted, indicating regional variations in economic performance despite overarching global challenges [24][25].