World Perspectives

Future of Interest Rates

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met on 1-2 May and decided to leave interest rates unchanged. The June meeting, however, will likely be another story as it is expected to increase the federal funds rate 25 basis points, which is currently at 1.75 percent after being raised in March. Given the strong likelihood of a hike next month, that means a rate of at least 2 percent by the end of 2018. Further, the Fed has raised rates at each of the last three December meetings. If the FOMC follows suit this year, that would put the funds rate at 2.25 percent. Others believe the language of the post-meeting statement hints at a total of four interest rate increases this year, and that would put the overnight federal funds rate at 2.5 percent...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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