Alright

 

and away we go...

Fed interest rate decision today: Central bank hikes by 0.25 percentage point to tame inflation

"The Fed, as expected, raised its key short-term interest rate by a quarter percentage point Wednesday, throttling back from a half-point hike in December and acknowledging that a historic inflation spike is slowing."

“Inflation has eased somewhat but remains elevated,” the Fed said in a statement after a two-day meeting."

"The central bank appears reluctant to signal that its aggressive campaign to beat back price increases is nearing an end even as it begins to balance the benefits of the initiative with growing recession risks."

"In its statement, the Fed repeated that “ongoing (rate) increases…will be appropriate” to bring down yearly inflation to the Fed’s 2% goal. Some economists expected the Fed instead to say “additional increases” would be needed, hinting the Fed is close to winding down the hiking cycle."

"The Fed’s latest move brings the federal funds rate to a range of 4.5% to 4.75%, up from near zero in March, in its boldest flurry of rate increases since the early 1980s."

(They are getting very close to where they cant do it anymore.)

"Later, however,  Powell signaled that if inflation follows the course officials expect, the Fed is on track to push the Fed's key rate to the 5% to 5.25% range and then pause. That would require two more quarter point hikes -- in March and May.

(Interest rates 

below the rate of inflation 

have never cured inflation according to the Feds own data.

So why in the world would it now?

Simple answer?

it's not and they know it.

They are gonna go as high as they can...

and then let it ride just like Peter Schiff has said.

And remember:

"The Treasury Department will now begin using “extraordinary measures” to continue paying the government's obligations. These measures are essentially fiscal accounting tools that curb certain government investments so that the bills continue to be paid. Those options could be exhausted by June"

Rate hikes in March and May.

Extraordinary measures exhausted by June.

Sound fun?)

"Asked if the Fed could stop before the rate hits 5% to 5.25%, Powell said Wednesday, "Certainly, it's possible," depending on inflation and labor market data over the next couple of months. "Absolutely it's possible." 

(Theres 1.7? 1.9? Jobs open for every 1 person actively looking for a job. Think thats gonna fix itself in the next lil bit?

or is that a systemic problem gonna continue for a while?

Come on now...

Use that rational brain God gave you and tell me...

Almost 2x as many jobs as people lookin?

Gonna fix itself in the next few months?

Or take a while?)

"Powell downplayed the chances of a rate cut in 2023 as the economy weakens. "Given our outlook, I don't see us cutting rates this year," he said, adding that could change if inflation moderates more quickly than anticipated."

"But wages and salaries were still up a robust 5.1% annually, a tick below the third-quarter gain."

(Inflation is 6.5%.

You are still falling behind where you were a year ago. 

Working more for less and less, 

meanwhile the rich get richer etc...

Revelation 6:6

And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, 

“A quart of wheat for a denarius, 

and three quarts of barley for a denarius, 

and do not harm the oil and wine.” )

"And employers posted 11 million job openings in December, modestly below an all-time high and above the prior month’s 10.4 million and pre-pandemic level of about 7 million, Labor said Wednesday."

(4 million more jobs open now that there were pre pandemic.

If people wanted them?

Theyd have 'em.

This is why "labor market data" isnt gonna fix itself any time soon.)

"Powell has said he’s looking for a better balance of labor demand and supply to ensure wage growth is moderating."

Have fun

Holler at me when ya see it bud...

"The labor market continues to be out of balance," 

he said Wednesday. 

(Yeah no kiddin...I just told you why, did anybody in that article tell you why?

)

"Another challenge the Fed faces is that a softer approach to rate hikes likely would juice stocks and tamp down mortgage rates and other borrowing costs, bolstering the economy. And that could push back against the Fed’s goal of bringing down inflation.'

("The lack of good options to any of them (multiple crises) should be pretty obvious by now.

People are just not understanding what time we are headed for:

Matthew 24:21

For then shall be great tribulation, 

such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, 

no, nor ever shall be.)

"At the start of last year, average 30-year fixed-mortgage rates hovered around 3%, according to Freddie Mac data. Now they're double that."

"A fresh read of the labor market was just released."

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed that there were 11 million vacancies in December. That exceeded economists' expectations by nearly 1 million vacancies."

(Hey like I said...

Come find me and let me know when you see:

"a better balance of labor demand and supply"

As my buddy says:

"Aint gonna happen."

Not any time soon anyway.

These guys so know whats up...)

"The Fed has been keeping a close eye on the report for signs of a labor market slowdown. Fed Chair Powell has repeatedly said that vacancies are too high and need to come down so that the labor supply is better aligned with demand."

Just because somebody says it needs to happen doesn't make it so yo...)

"As the prime rate has risen to 7.5%, the average credit card interest rate has risen from 14.6% in February 2022 to 19.9% last week, according to Bankrate."

"On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell by 0.1% in December, the first decline since May 2020."

(By googles calculations?

That's 31 months 

from May 2020 

to December 2022

A .1% decline in consumer prices?

in 31 months?

And 2x as many job openings as people looking for one?

Ya might wanna buckle up...

Do you really think its an accident 

they put that information at the bottom of the article?

"When is the next Fed meeting? 

The Fed's next meeting is from March 21 to 22."

"Fed 2023 meeting schedule 

Here are the remaining meetings for the year:

May 2-3

June 13-14

July 25-26

September 19-20

Oct/Nov 31-1

December 12-13"