The Traderszone Network

Published in TZ Latest News 19 May, 2015 by The TZ Newswire Staff

Economy’s weak spell puts Fed at crossroads over liftoff plans

The Federal Reserve’s plan to raise interest rates this year, forged over months of strong jobs growth and a seemingly durable expansion, now faces an economy that no longer follows the script and may push the “liftoff” far into the future. The world’s largest economy slowed to a crawl in the first quarter and may actually have contracted. Lackluster retail sales and investment, sagging consumer confidence, a ballooning trade deficit and stagnant industrial output have all cast doubt over the central bank’s plans.