A Fedspeak dilemma: to “skip” or “pause” rates?

Make Me Smart

Marketplace

News, Business

4.6 • 5.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 June 2023

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ahead of their upcoming monthly meeting, Federal Reserve officials have hinted at possibly holding interest rates steady. And they’ve been using a few terms to describe the move — a “skip,” a “pause” and a “hold.” One listener called in to ask: What’s the difference? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions, like why monetary policy tools are so blunt and the possibility of a common currency for BRICS countries. Plus, why your favorite radio program asks for money.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

“Fed Officials Consider Skipping a Hike in June — But Don’t Call It a Pause” from Bloomberg

“Why May’s Jobs Data Complicates Inflation Picture for the Fed” from The New York Times

“How BRICS Became a Real Club and Why Others Want In” from The Washington Post

“BRICS Ministers to Challenge US With More Members, Common Currency” from Bloomberg

“What should the White House do to combat inflation? Experts weighed in with 12 ideas.” from The Washington Post

“What the Inflation Reduction Act does and doesn’t do about rising prices” from NPR

“Is the ‘blunt tool’ of monetary policy actually just a dull tool?” from Marketplace

“Why Media & Tech Layoffs Are Skyrocketing” from Variety

“The mysterious ad slump of 2022” from Vox

Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Jeremy and I consider making me smart to be the cornerstone of my continuing economic
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0:59.0	It is June the 7th.
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