Economic Commentary This Week: The Fed Speculation Will End

The speculation will end. Almost. While most everybody is expecting an increase in short-term rates by the Federal Reserve Board’s Open Market Committee, there are two questions that remain. First, by how much will the Fed raise rates? If you had asked this question just a month ago, the prevalent answer would have been 0.25%. But with rates going up sharply since the election, the question should be asked whether the Fed will make a move of 0.5%. While the current evidence of inflation does not seem to warrant such an increase, the reaction of the markets to the election leaves the door open for a larger move without shocking the markets.

Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Even though winter doesn’t begin until days before Christmas, now is the time to winterize your home. Some of these tips will help you avoid costly repairs, some will add relief to your utility bills, and others are just good tips.