On March 6, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
said that interest rates will start to drop at
some point this year, without specifying when.
CNBC reports that Powell said policymakers
are closely monitoring the risks of inflation and
are reluctant to begin easing rates too quickly.
In considering any adjustments
to the target range for the policy
rate, we will carefully assess
the incoming data, the evolving
outlook, and the balance of risks.
, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, via CNBC.
The Committee does not
expect that it will be appropriate
to reduce the target range until
it has gained greater confidence
that inflation is moving
sustainably toward 2 percent, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, via CNBC.
According to Powell, the Fed needs
"a little bit more data" before
making a decision on rates.
We think because of the strength
in the economy and the strength
in the labor market and
the progress weāve made,
we can approach that step
carefully and thoughtfully
and with greater confidence, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, via CNBC.
When we reach that confidence,
the expectation is we will
do so sometime this year.
We can then begin dialing back
that restriction on our policy, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, via CNBC.
Markets are eagerly anticipating the Fed ending its
aggressive rate-hiking campaign, after 11 interest
rate increases between March 2022 and July 2023.
Longer-term inflation expectations
appear to have remained well
anchored, as reflected by
a broad range of surveys of
households, businesses, and
forecasters, as well as measures
from financial markets, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, via CNBC.
Longer-term inflation expectations
appear to have remained well
anchored, as reflected by
a broad range of surveys of
households, businesses, and
forecasters, as well as measures
from financial markets, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, via CNBC.
CNBC reports that Powell is scheduled for a two-day visit
to Capitol Hill this week, beginning with a March 6
meeting with the House Financial Services Committee.
Annual inflation in the US fell to 2.9% last month, officials have said - heightening expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in September. Sky News
New US Home Construction , Sinks to Slowest Pace in 4 Years.
Government data released on June 20 indicates that new home construction in America dropped in May to the slowest pace since June 2020, Yahoo Finance reports. .
Housing starts dropped 5.5%,
and building permits dipped 3.8%.
Home completions also fell to the lowest amount since September 2022.
High interest rates, set by the Fed to help tame inflation, have resulted in high mortgage rates.
But recent data has suggested that inflation has started to cool, which may give the Fed the confidence it needs to lower rates.
The weakest U.S. housing starts
since the pandemic-led shutdowns
are fairly convincing evidence of
restrictive monetary policy. , Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, via note.
While a growing population and
workforce are providing some support,
US home builders wonāt become
busier until borrowing costs fall, Sal Guatieri, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, via note.
Meanwhile, other data released on June 20 showed that first-time applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week.
However, continuing claims rose
for a seventh consecutive week
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Mortgage Rates Continue , to Fall, Raising Hopes of the , Fed Cutting Rates.
ABC reports that borrowing costs for
home loans continued to ease this week,
with the average rate on a 30-year mortgage
falling to its lowest level since April.
According to mortgage buyer
Freddie Mac, the rate fell from
6.95% to 6.87% last week. .
That figure is still significantly higher than
what the rate was during the same time last year,
which was at an average of 6.67%. .
15-year fixed-rate mortgages
also eased, falling from
6.17% last week to 6.13%. .
During the same time last year,
the average rate was at 6.03%.
Those higher rates can add hundreds of dollars
to monthly costs for borrowers, which limits the
purchasing options of potential homebuyers.
Mortgage rates fell for
the third straight week
following signs of cooling
inflation and market
expectations of a
future Fed rate cut, Sam Khater, Freddie Macās chief economist, via ABC.
ABC reports that rates are influenced by a number
of factors, including the Federal Reserve's interest
rate policy and the 10-year Treasury yield.
ABC reports that rates are influenced by a number
of factors, including the Federal Reserve's interest
rate policy and the 10-year Treasury yield.
Due to yields also beginning to ease, the Federal
Reserve could start to drop its main interest rate
after hiking it up to the highest level in over 20 years.
Last week, Fed officials suggested that they would make
just one cut to their benchmark interest rate in 2024,
down from previous projections of three cuts for the year.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Walgreens Plans , āSignificantā Store Closures.
On June 27, Walgreens announced quarterly earnings
that were poorer than expected, NBC News reports.
The company's stock fell 15% in pre-market trading.
CEO Tim Wentworth issued a press release.
We continue to face a difficult operating
environment, including persistent
pressures on the U.S. consumer and the
impact of recent marketplace dynamics
which have eroded pharmacy margins, Tim Wentworth, Walgreens CEO, via press release.
Our results and outlook
reflect these headwinds, Tim Wentworth, Walgreens CEO, via press release.
Wentworth elaborated in an interview with CNBC.
The consumer is absolutely stunned by
the absolute prices of things, and the
fact that some of them may not be
inflating doesnāt actually change their
resistance to the current pricing, Tim Wentworth, Walgreens CEO, via CNBC.
On a call with analysts, Wentworth said that Walgreens' strategy will have to "include the closure of a significant portion of these underperforming stores.".
75% of our stores drive 100% of our
profitability today. What that means is
the others we take a hard look at, we are
going to finalize a number that we will close, Tim Wentworth, Walgreens CEO, via call with analysts.
The pharmacy chain currently
operates about 8,600 stores
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
US Water System May Be , Vulnerable to Cyberattack, by China, Russia and Iran.
CNBC reports that the United States
water system has been the target of a series
of cyberattacks over the past few years. .
In response, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has been forced to issue an alert warning
that 70% of water systems do not comply
with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
According to the EPA, some have āalarming
cybersecurity vulnerabilities,ā including
unchanged default passwords and former
employees who retain access to vital systems.
In February, the FBI issued a warning to
Congress that Chinese hackers have embedded
themselves into the U.S. cyber infrastructure. .
Those hackers have targeted water treatment
plants, the electrical grid, transportation
systems and other vital infrastructure.
Those hackers have targeted water treatment
plants, the electrical grid, transportation
systems and other vital infrastructure.
Water is among
the least mature
in terms of security, Adam Isles, head of cybersecurity
practice for Chertoff Group, via CNBC.
Stuart Madnick, an MIT professor of engineering
systems and co-founder of Cybersecurity at
MIT Sloan, warns that an attack that shuts off
water to the population is the main concern.
We have demonstrated in our
lab how operations, such as
a water plant, could be shut
down not just for hours or
days, but for weeks, Adam Isles, head of cybersecurity
practice for Chertoff Group, via CNBC.
Recently, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sent a letter
to governors stressing the urgency of the threat. .
Recently, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sent a letter
to governors stressing the urgency of the threat. .
CNBC reports that budgets, outdated
infrastructure and an overall reluctance to take
action may prevent necessary fixes from
being made before a serious attack.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Consumer Prices , Rose 0.4% in February.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released
its latest data on March 12.
In February 2024, prices rose 0.4%
compared to January and 3.2% year-over-year,..
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
![New US Home Construction Sinks to Slowest Pace in 4 Years [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240620/1379144182-New-US-Home-Construction-Sinks-to-Slowest-Pace.jpg)
![Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall, Raising Hopes of the Fed Cutting Rates [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240620/1379139322-Mortgage-Rates-Continue-to-Fall-Raising-Hopes-of.jpg)
![Walgreens Plans āSignificantā Store Closures [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240627/1379798452-Walgreens-Plans-Significant-Store-Closures.jpg)
![US Water System May Be Vulnerable to Cyberattack by China, Russia and Iran [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240627/1379775424-US-Water-System-May-Be-Vulnerable-to-Cyberattack.jpg)
![Consumer Prices Rose 0.4% in February [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240312/1368414578-Consumer-Prices-Rose-in-February.jpg)
