Powell quotes Volcker, promises to “use our tools forcefully,” take “forceful and rapid steps” to reduce demand until “confident the job is done,” though it’ll bring “pain to households and businesses,” but not doing it will cause “far greater pain.” Hawk city. Finally got through to the markets?
Spending on gasoline plunges due to plunge in price. “Real” spending on durable goods, amazingly, jumps for 2nd month. Services spending rises but stuck below pre-pandemic trend.
Forget “housing shortage.” It’s about crazy prices: For sales to revive at these mortgage rates, prices have to come down a lot, and they’re starting to.
Overall supply at retailers still 18% below normal, huge shortages in some segments, gluts in others. Thankfully, grocery stores only a tad below normal.
