Skip to main content

Economic Recovery Has Stalled - NAFCU Curt Long

WASHINGTON—The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decision earlier this week to maintain the federal funds target rate at its current range of 0% to 0.25% is an acknowledgment the economic recovery has stalled in recent months due to increased COVID-19 cases, according to one economist.

"While there was a reference to the progress on vaccine distribution and its potential to alter the path of economy, there was no indication that a change in asset purchase volume is anywhere in view,” said NAFCU Chief Economist and Vice President of Research Curt Long.

As it has in its recent meetings, the FOMC again issued a statement that the Fed is "committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals."

During the meeting, the committee also unanimously reaffirmed its "Statement of Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy," originally adopted in August 2020 following a review of monetary policy strategy, tools, and communications practices.

Long said the new strategy framework seeks to better reflect economic changes and monetary policy approaches. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Fed has made clear its intention to use its tools to their fullest potential until the economic recovery is well underway and Long previously said the statement "looks to avoid the mistakes of the past."

The FOMC is expected to next meet March 16-17. Its tentative meeting schedule for 2021 can be viewed here.
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

Birth of the Weekend

  Birth of the Weekend   Today marks 100 years since Ford Motor Company became one of the first American companies to officially adopt the five-day, 40-hour workweek for factory workers, a decision that reshaped work-life balance. Henry Ford’s idea to eliminate Saturday from the workweek initially met hesitation from some hourly workers worried about reduced pay. However, his daily wages of $5 to $6—roughly double the industry average—helped to ease concerns ( read 1920s reactions ). Ford reportedly redirected Saturday wages to hire thousands more people for Monday through Friday shifts, reducing unemployment. The move also boosted productivity, reduced turnover, strengthened morale, and gave workers more leisure time, some of which they spent buying and traveling in Ford cars.  The US formally codified the 40-hour workweek in 1940, mandating overtime pay for hourly employees. More recently, momentum has grown aro...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

How did the Supreme Court become so powerful?

  A court designed to be the least powerful branch became one of the most influential institutions in history. 1440 Explores host Sony Kassam dives inside the Supreme Court of the United States, with help from Yale Law professor Akhil Reed Amar, to uncover how it gained extraordinary authority, what really happens behind closed doors, and why its power has become one of the most fiercely contested questions in modern democracy. ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: Annual Conference First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Advocacy  
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Fed Keeps Interest Rates on Hold in Split Decision at Final Meeting of Powell Era

  By  Keith Griffith April 29, 2026 In an unexpectedly close split decision,  Federal Reserve policymakers  have decided to keep interest rates on pause in what is likely to be the final meeting under the supervision of Fed Chair  Jerome Powell . Powell joined the 8-4 majority on the  Federal Open Market Committee  to vote in favor of leaving the  federal funds rate unchanged  at Wednesday's meeting in Washington, DC, judging inflation as running too hot to justify a rate cut. At a press conference after the vote, Powell revealed that he will remain on the board of governors as a regular member after his term as chairman ends, saying: "After my term as chair ends on May 15, I will continue to serve as a governor for a period of time to be determined. I plan to keep a low profile as a governor. There is only ever one chair of the Federal Reserve Board." Read the complete story here.
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Syracuse Fire Department Credit Union.

  ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: Annual Conference First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Advocacy  
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

How's Your Posture?

      April Blog   How's Your Posture?   Scenario Planning Is Dead! Long Live Strategic Posture. by That One Consultant You Hired and Then Ignored   Somewhere in your credi...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Boston Firefighters Credit Union Taps Tech Leader Elizabeth Adcock to Drive Digital Future

  Boston Firefighters Credit Union is bringing in some serious digital firepower. The organization just named Elizabeth Adcock as its new Chief Digital & Information Officer—a role that’s all about steering the credit union into a more tech-savvy, member-focused future. If you’re wondering why this matters, consider the timing. BFCU is in the middle of a major digital evolution, expanding its reach across Massachusetts while staying true to its core mission: serving first responders and their families. Enter Adcock, a technology executive with a track record of turning complex tech challenges into real-world wins. “I’m thrilled to welcome Elizabeth as our Chief Digital & Information Officer,” said Danielle Milner, President & CEO of Boston Firefighters Credit Union. “She is the rare combination of strategic vision, digital expertise, and human-centered leadership. Paired with her deep commitment to bring greater innovation to first responders and their families, her ser...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

IRS Reporting Proposal Scaled Back, but Still 'Flawed'

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats distributed an update to the controversial IRS reporting requirements that the credit union industry has been very vocally opposed to since it was unveiled in late June. According to the updated proposal rolled out Tuesday, it would require financial institutions to report inflows and outflows of personal and business accounts, as well as transfers between accounts of the same owner, if it is more than $10,000 per year. The proposal floating around for the past four months had the threshold at $600 per year. The requirements do not apply to payroll deposits for wages or to those receiving Social Security benefits. In response to the updated IRS reporting proposal, NAFCU President/CEO Dan Berger said, “It has become abundantly clear that Americans oppose the IRS obtaining additional information on their financial accounts. The updated plan is nothing more than window dressing in an attempt to shore up support for a flawed proposal. Instead of creating financ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Ten-Year Treasury Hits a 15-Year High

WASHINGTON–The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note has hit a 15-year high, which could lead to higher costs for many borrowers. The increase in yields is also “raising concern” on Wall Street about the potential fallout in the stock, bond and housing markets, the Wall Street Journal added. A key benchmark for interest rates across the economy, the 10-year yield settled at 4.258%, according to Tradeweb, up from 4.220% earlier this week, marking its highest close since June 2008, months before the collapse of Lehman Brothers and expansive Federal Reserve policy “ushered in more than a decade of historically low bond yields,” the Journal added. ‘Nervous’ Investors “The rise in yields is making investors nervous, because past surges have at...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

2 Historical Moments: CUNA Mutual Officially Changes Name Today, As Union Also Calls Strike

MADISON, Wis.–One of the most iconic names in credit unions and credit union history in the U.S. will officially change today when CUNA Mutual Group begins operating under the TruStage brand across the enterprise. All enterprise, business-to-business and consumer brands are now unified under the single brand name of TruStage, which the company has been using for some of its products for a number of years. The new brand is being introduced at the same time approximately 450 employees represented by Office & Professional Employees Local 39 have gone on strike. It is the first strike in the company and the union's history. As CUToday.info has been reporting, the company and the union have been at an impasse since February of 2022, when t...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

CECL Credit migration tools will be demonstrated at our Seattle conference!

CECL CREDIT MIGRATION TOOLS    CECL is fast becoming one of the "hot topics" for credit union CEOs, CFOs, and their Boards. With the new FASB changes becoming effective in just two years, credit migration is a clear and easy CECL response tool which can properly fund the CU's ALLL account and offer great value to the members.  Randy C. Thompson Ph.D Introduction to Credit Risk Management and Credit Migration (CECL) Credit Risk Management Managing and maintaining a portfolio of performing loans is a basic challenge for all credit unions.  Marketing and underwriting loans is a major function in all credit unions.  However, getting loans on the books is only 50% of the job.  The other 50% is managing loans over their life in the portfolio.  Credit Migration is a powerful tool that credit union leaders are using for this purpose.  His presentation will provide a clear understanding of what credit migration is, how it works and ho...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»