News
Bloomberg | Consumer Prices in U.S. Little Changed on Fuel
The cost of living in the U.S. was little changed in December for a second month as stores cut prices to boost holiday sales and fuel expenses fell, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s view that inflation will remain in check.
WSJ | IMF Seeks More Funds to Gird for Euro Crisis
The International Monetary Fund wants to raise hundreds of billions of dollars to boost its financial firepower—despite U.S. resistance—to cope with the effects of Europe's debt crisis.
Bloomberg | China Said to Consider Easing Lending Constraints, Capital Rules for Banks
China is allowing the nation’s five biggest banks to increase first-quarter lending and weighing a plan to relax capital requirements as economic growth cools.
CNN: Money | Local currencies: 'In the U.S. we don't trust'
It may seem like Monopoly money to outsiders, but a growing number of communities across the U.S. are using homegrown local currencies to stimulate their economies and protect themselves from the nation's broader economic woes.
Econ Comments and Analysis
AEI | The hidden cost of free money
If the Fed's activities in stimulating economic growth ultimately generate inflation, as many economists expect, 30-year mortgages paying low rates will be worth even less, and the hit to bank capital will be much higher.
Blogs
The Economist | Austerity is a pain. So is tight money
I think this is as good a time as any to review why austerity could harm the economy, and whether there is a difference between regional austerity, and euro-zone-wide austerity. After all, some readers may wonder: should a highly indebted country stop saving?
