Sherry Cooper
Sherry Cooper
Sherry S. Cooperis a Canadian-American economist. Cooper is currently Chief Economist for Dominion Lending Centres. She was Executive Vice-President and Chief Economist of BMO Financial Group, with responsibilities for economic forecasting and risk assessment. She comments regularly in the press on financial issues...
core energy fed high hike inflation likely march mild months prices rate remain risks skewed track
High energy prices keep on working their way through the system. The risks remain skewed to a mild up-creep in core inflation during the months ahead, which will keep the Fed on track for another rate hike in March and likely in May.
armed commodity concern emerge heading inflation likely pressure prices rising weaker
Armed with the weaker U.S. dollar, commodity prices heading north, and a strengthening economy, rising inflation pressure is still likely to emerge as a concern for the Fed. But not yet. Not yet.
ahead deficit domestic drive further given higher imports likely months oil prices trade widening
Further widening in the trade deficit in the months ahead is very likely given that the surge in oil prices will drive imports higher and that there has been no let-up in the domestic economy.
annual bound bring christmas consumer growth likely might nearly next pace percent rate season spending year
The Christmas season this year might well bring cheer, but consumption growth next year is bound to slow, ... From an annual pace of nearly 4.0 percent in 2004, consumer spending will likely grow at a 3.5 percent rate this year, decelerating to a 2.25 percent pace in 2006.
cent continue fed feels funds likely moved neutral overnight per policy raise rates until
My take is that the Fed will continue to raise overnight rates until it feels it has moved from a stimulative to a neutral policy stance. That will likely take the funds rate to 4 per cent-to-4.25 per cent by yearend.
bank distant divert focus gradual inflation likely rising seems threat wage
The bank's new focus is likely to be on rising wage pressures, but that still seems a distant inflation threat at this point. On balance, there is nothing here to divert the bank from its gradual tightening course.
bonds buying change foreigners haven margin massive percent safe stocks
Foreigners own 11 percent of U.S. stocks -- that's not huge, but at the margin it makes a big difference. And right now there's massive foreign buying of bonds because they're a safe haven amid geopolitical uncertainty -- that could change as well.
corporate inflation pricing remains virtually
Inflation in the U.S. remains virtually non-existent, as does corporate pricing power.
assessment diminish dual following hikes inflation looking market meeting open passing rate recall risk
Recall the Fed's assessment following the (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting on Aug. 24, that the dual summertime rate hikes 'should markedly diminish the risk of inflation going forward,' ... This call is looking more tenuous with every passing day.
curtail demand economies given global major plants shutter surplus trade virtually
The repercussions on global trade would be devastating, ... Given that virtually all major economies have a surplus with the (United States), trade disruptions would shutter manufacturing plants and curtail global demand for most commodities.
consistent critically degree depends economic future monetary overall path policy required softness spending sufficient whether
The future path for monetary policy depends critically on at least a flattening out of interest-sensitive spending, ... It is touch-and-go whether the softness in interest-sensitive spending is sufficient to be consistent with the required degree of overall economic slowing.
asset cause easy ended fed inflation interest per raise rates worried
I'm not worried about inflation per se ; I'm worried about inflation in asset prices. When the Fed has been aggressively easy in the past, it's ended up having to come in and aggressively raise interest rates and cause a lot of unnecessary dislocation.
affects certainly effect far half happening job market psychology starts
It certainly affects psychology, but if the job market starts growing, that effect is far more important to psychology than something that's happening half a world away.
economic predicting risky
Predicting the long-awaited U.S. economic slowdown can be a risky business,