Central banks move in step, for now
4/28/202625 min
The U.S. Federal Reserve meets this week — so do central banks in Japan, England, Canada, and the European Union. Most will keep rates unchanged for now, as war in the Middle East shakes up the global status quo. But as other banks weigh imminent rate hikes, the U.S. may move in the opposite direction. More on why in today’s episode. Plus: Consumer sentiment crept up in April, Medicaid cuts slash pediatric care options, and five Big Tech firms post earnings this week.
Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.
Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsKai Ryssdal· Host0:00
[upbeat music] In no particular order, economists, they're just like us. How much your money is gonna cost. And yes, you can get insurance for that. From American Public Media, this is Marketplace. [upbeat music] In Los Angeles, I'm Kai Ryssdal. It is Tuesday today. This one is the 28th of April. Good as always to have you along, everybody. If you get a bunch of economists and analysts in a room, and you ask them to name the, I don't know, top three most important factors in this global economy of ours, I am gonna bet that most, if not all of them, have somewhere in that top three the cost of money, interest rates. So it is no small matter that this week is kind of a central bankapalooza, if you will. The Bank of Japan left its key rate unchanged this morning. We're gonna hear from the Bank of England, the Bank of Canada, and the Central Bank, too, and the Federal Reserve's open market committee meets today and tomorrow. Almost certainly, by the way, Jay Powell's last get-together and press conference as Fed chair. Anyway, Marketplace's Justin Hoh is gonna get us going with what those central banks are up against and how that might square, or not, with what the Fed is dealing with back here.
Justin Ho1:26
Central banks around the world are facing a similar dilemma.