Today the Federal Reserve announced a further 50-basis-point cut in its target for the fed funds interest rate, bringing it down to 3.0% for a total reduction in January of 125 basis points. How long should it take before this has an effect on the economy?
Category Archives: housing
December retail sales
Disappointing yes, but the financial press is getting a little carried away.
How low will Ben go?
Was 25, now we have 50. Do I hear 75?
Mortgage securitization
I thought it might be helpful to summarize some of the background on how we got into our present mortgage mess.
Home sales and prices continue to fall
2007 ended like it began, only worse.
More on the new mortgage plan
While the plan may not be as big a deal as we thought, the problem still is.
Some questions about the new mortgage plan
Part of this plan sounds like an unambiguously good idea. But most of the coverage I’ve seen is ignoring what should be the key questions.
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae back in the news
So how worried should you be?
New research on the causes of the housing boom and bust
What are the respective contributions of national and local factors to recent changes in house prices?
Distressing Picture of the Day
From the IMF’s September Global Financial Stability Report: