The debate in monetary policy for most of the year has regarded when the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates for the first time in nine years. The last rate hike was in June 2006.The debate in monetary policy for most of the year has regarded when the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates for the first time in nine years. The last rate hike was in June 2006.The general opinion was that it would occur in June or September after the scheduled Fed meetings in those months. We noted here in April that an earlier-rather-than-later move could not be ruled out, but that does not appear likely now. An update on whether the Fed will raise rates will be announced Wednesday, and it is almost certain that the decision will not be accord...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.