Highlighting Just How Negative the FOMC Statement Really Was

from 24/7WallStreet:



Highlighting Just How Negative the FOMC Statement Really Was
Posted: August 9, 2011 at 3:30 pm


If you pick through the FOMC statement made by Ben Bernanke and friends today, you will get a picture of just how bad things are in the economy. We transposed the entire statement and highlighted the sentences that had a negative tone to them. They did not call it a recession, but maybe they might admit to a recessionless-recession…. -Jon C. Ogg

AS FOLLOWS:

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in June indicates that economic growth so far this year has been considerably slower than the Committee had expected. Indicators suggest a deterioration in overall labor market conditions in recent months, and the unemployment rate has moved up. Household spending has flattened out, investment in nonresidential structures is still weak, and the housing sector remains depressed. However, business investment in equipment and software continues to expand. Temporary factors, including the damping effect of higher food and energy prices on consumer purchasing power and spending as well as supply chain disruptions associated with the tragic events in Japan, appear to account for only some of the recent weakness in economic activity. Inflation picked up earlier in the year, mainly reflecting higher prices for some commodities and imported goods, as well as the supply chain disruptions. More recently, inflation has moderated as prices of energy and some commodities have declined from their earlier peaks. Longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable.

Consistent with its statutory mandate, the Committee seeks to foster maximum employment and price stability. The Committee now expects a somewhat slower pace of recovery over coming quarters than it did at the time of the previous meeting and anticipates that the unemployment rate will decline only gradually toward levels that the Committee judges to be consistent with its dual mandate. Moreover, downside risks to the economic outlook have increased. The Committee also anticipates that inflation will settle, over coming quarters, at levels at or below those consistent with the Committee’s dual mandate as the effects of past energy and other commodity price increases dissipate further. However, the Committee will continue to pay close attention to the evolution of inflation and inflation expectations.

To promote the ongoing economic recovery and to help ensure that inflation, over time, is at levels consistent with its mandate, the Committee decided today to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent. The Committee currently anticipates that economic conditions–including low rates of resource utilization and a subdued outlook for inflation over the medium run–are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through mid-2013. The Committee also will maintain its existing policy of reinvesting principal payments from its securities holdings. The Committee will regularly review the size and composition of its securities holdings and is prepared to adjust those holdings as appropriate. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://247wallst.com/2011/08/09/highlighting-just-how-negative-the-fomc-statement-really-was/#ixzz1UdioL4zx

nt

the same bad economy.

That is exactly what it says.

Money becomes more expensive ( for us, not for banks)
More hidden inflation.

Zero to minus zero job growth.

Stagflation to deflation in some areas of the economy and continued hidden inflation of goods as dollar devalues yet even more.

TBTF banks asking for even more money to be rescued. ( Fannie and Freddie already asking AGAIN)

America's resources sold off.

America's support systems further destroyed: education, medical care, social services.

And a further decline in the markets at some point in the near future.
(edited to add: gee, look at today, below 11,000 Dow)
gold and silver continue to climb.

Some commodities will go way back up ( sugar is mentioned in some writings of yesterday).
Anything we import will continue to increase in cost.

That is what comes immediately to mind. And that is if we are lucky.
If we are not lucky, we could have massive inflation across the board if the gov keeps printing money.

And the "dollar bugs" will argue none of this is true, even tho you and I see it happening every time we walk into a grocery store.

And it worked yesterday. Not so much today. ;) it's weak as a mini QE3.

I'd still say gold and 10-year and over T bonds.

so thumbs up might be more appropriate.