Skip to main content

A Look at What Newly Released Fed Minutes Reveal - Curt Long NAFCU Chief Economist and VP-Research

Curt will be presenting the state of the economy at our conference in Clearwater Beach from 10/3-6/23

WASHINGTON–Newly released minutes from the Federal Reserve’s most recent meeting shows nearly all of the policymakers supported the decision to continue to slow the pace of interest rate hikes, but also indicated that curbing inflation will remain the “key factor” in how much longer (and how much higher) the rate increases will continue.

The minutes seem to suggest a compromise between those on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) who are worried about a slowing economy and those who are convinced inflation will prove to be persistent, and that the shift to smaller-sized hikes are merited by the inflation data.

Long, Curt

Curt Long

"According to the minutes from the FOMC’s January meeting, several members favored a 50-basis point hike,” said NAFCU Chief Economist and VP-Research Curt Long. “Those members pointed to easing financial conditions after inflation peaked. Given the strength of the labor market and the decent economic returns so far in 2023, there are likely to be several more rate hikes in store." 

Also Worth Highlighting

Long said other points worth highlighting in the minutes include:

  • Some participants judged that recent economic data signaled a somewhat higher chance of continued subdued economic growth, with inflation falling over time to the Committee’s longer-run goal of 2%.
  • Participants agreed that the labor market remained very tight and assessed that labor demand substantially exceeded the supply of available workers.
  • Participants noted that inflation data received over the past three months showed a welcome reduction in the monthly pace of price increases but stressed that substantially more evidence of progress across a broader range of prices would be required to be confident that inflation was on a sustained downward path, Long stated.

The Conundrum

The central bank's policy rate is currently in the 4.50%-4.75% range. The FOMC is scheduled to next meet March 21-22 meeting. As CUToday.info has reported, surprisingly strong employment data as well as ongoing strong retail sales have put the Fed in a conundrum about how high to push rates and when to back off.

02/22/2023 CUToday



Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday Reading - What's the point of a consumer electronics show?

  What's the point of a consumer electronics show? Consumer electronics shows are large convention-type events where companies debut new technologies and products. The largest and most notable shows are CES in Las Vegas, a trade show every January, and IFA Berlin, which takes place annually in September. The events have historically introduced novel, cutting-edge products that later became household standards, like HDTVs, VCRs, DVDs, and gaming consoles ( see list ).   Over time, these shows evolved from product showcases ( see last year's coolest gadgets ) into complex industry ecosystems, serving as a meeting ground for startups, multinational technology companies, investors, and the media. Hardware launches, keynote speeches, and...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

A Perfect Example - What Makes Credit Unions Different from Banks!

When the government shutdown hit in October and paychecks stopped, thousands of federal employees were left wondering how to make ends meet. Credit unions across the country stepped up—but Keesler Federal Credit Union went above and beyond. No loans, no hassle—just your paycheck Instead of making members apply for emergency loans, Keesler Federal launched its Paycheck Relief Program. Revolutionary in its simplicity, it worked like this: if you were a federal employee with direct deposit at Keesler Federal, your paycheck kept coming—interest-free, fee-free, and stress-free. Each qualified member could receive up to $6,000 per pay period for as long as 90 days. No hoops, no headaches. From October 1 until the shutdown ended, Keesler Federal advanced more than 5,000 paychecks totaling $6.5 million to 1,710 members. For non-members, they even offered zero-interest loans up to $6,500 with a year to pay it back. This proactive approach meant that before the first missed paycheck, Keesler Fed...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Eight Credit Unions Pay $42 Million in Special Dividends to 1.1 Million Members

  By  Jim DuPlessis   | January 05, 2026 at 04:00 PM So far this season, CU Times has tallied 19 credit unions, which have announced $160.3 million in special dividends for members.       Eight more credit unions have reported special dividends, paying their 1.1 million members $42.1 million in December and January. The bulk of the dividends came from Police and Fire Federal Credit Union of Philadelphia and Eastman Credit Union of Kingsport, Tenn., which each announced $16 million in rewards approved by their boards. The late January payout from Eastman ($9.7 billion, 356,492 members) will bring its total special dividends to $225 million since 1998. A news release from the credit union said “the Extraordinary Dividend is never guaranteed, but the strong financial performance of ECU in 2025 enabled the Board of Directors to approve this year’s $16 million payout.” Eastman’s $16 million payout represents about $47 per member and 19 basis points of its averag...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Sunday Reaing - Can the seasons really make you depressed?

    Can the seasons really make you depressed? Seasonal affective disorder   is a form of depression that repeats during predictable seasonal shifts, impacting an estimated 5% of the global population—predominantly women. Symptoms of the condition occur with significant cyclical changes in daylight hours, with prevalence increasing in regions north of 40 degrees latitude (less commonly in the Southern Hemisphere). Its etiology—or root cause—remains unclear to researchers. Though “winter blues” are commonly reported, SAD is a distinct, diagnosed subtype of major depressive disorder first formally described in 1984 ( see criteria ). Key symptoms—lasting roughly four months each year—resemble common depression: fatigue, increased sleep, carbohydrate cravi...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink Unite Under New Parent Brand: Centergy Solutions

Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink Unite Under New Parent Brand: Centergy Solutions Auto Link announced a major rebrand that unifies its three established product lines- Auto Link, Home Link, and CalcuLink- under one cohesive parent brand. The transition marks a strategic evolution designed to simplify the company’s ecosystem, strengthen product synergy, and enhance the overall experience for credit unions and the members they serve. The new Centergy Solutions brand reflects the company’s mission to deliver a more connected and integrated suite of digital tools across auto and home lending, auto and home buying, and financial decision-making. From an operational perspective, the unified brand also allows Centergy Solutions to accelerate innovation and improve platform alignment. Under the new parent brand: • Auto Link continues to support financial institutions with industry-leading digital auto lending tools that boost member engagement and loan volume. • Home Link provides consume...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Syracuse Fire Department Credit Union

 Congrats, Tonia, on your promotion! ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

What UBER Eats Delivery Has to Do With You

By Ray Birch ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—That Uber Eats food delivery that arrived quickly after being ordered on a convenient and simple app has changed what members expect from their credit unions, even if those same members don’t realize it. “With competitors introducing digital-first solutions, consumers today demand prompt, seamless service, especially for high-frequency, less complex processes like obtaining a new credit card,” said Scott P. Young, SVP of emerging services at Velera. “While many credit unions have streamlined in-branch and contact center operations to meet this demand for speed, other services, such as digital account opening and credit card loan origination, still lag behind—all of which can cause member dissatisfaction and frustration.” ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Temporary Corporate Credit Union Share Guarantee Expires December 31, 2012

NCUA LETTER TO CREDIT UNIONS NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 DATE: March 2012 LETTER No.: 12-CU-03 TO: Federally Insured Credit Unions SUBJ: Temporary Corporate Credit Union Share Guarantee Expires December 31, 2012 Page Content ​ Dear Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officers: We are entering the final phase in the successful stabilization of the corporate credit union system. By the end of this year, all products and services offered by conserved corporate credit unions will be seamlessly transitioned to other providers – with no interruption of service to members. In the meantime, all ongoing corporate credit unions are meeting NCUA’s higher regulatory standards for capital, investments, and governance. ***READ COMPLETE LETTER; Temporary Corporate Credit Union Share Guarantee Expires December 3...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Become a Royal Credit Union

Welcome Royal Member Services Royal Member Services About Royal   We stand behind the most dependable automotive service plans in the business. We offer a range of automotive service plans for new and used vehicles that provide exceptional protection against repair costs while increasing dealer value on each and every sale. Our plans are backed by more than 50 years of dependability and customer satisfaction. We offer a world-class service organization, marketing, training, and a complete line of services. We have plans to fit most every vehicle and consumer budget. Call today and put Roya...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Fed Raises Rates to Highest Point Since 2001; Here's What CU Economists Are Saying

WASHINGTON—Emphasizing it remains “highly attentive to inflation risks,” the Federal Resoerve has moved to hike interest rates by 25 basis points, setting the target range for federal funds at 5.25 to 5.5%--their highest level since 2001. The Federal Open Market Committee made the announcement Wednesday at the close of its July two-day meeting here, and suggested it may not yet be done with rate increases. “Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated,” the Fed stated in a release. Tighter Conditions “Tighter credit conditions for households and businesses are likely to weigh on economic...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»