Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Barkin said he wants to see more evidence that U.S. inflation is easing back to the central bank’s goal of 2%. “I want to see more evidence that inflation is settling back to our target,” Barkin said in an audience discussion at the Richmond Association for Business Economics Monday.
Bonds
Massachusetts’ House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a $659 million tax cut package, handing off to the Senate one of the largest tax cut proposals in state history. In a 150–3 vote, the Democratic-majority House approved a $659 million proposal introduced by Rep. Ronald Mariano last week, a package in line with, but notably smaller, than
A New York judge has ordered an affiliate to the owner of the American Dream Mall to pay $389 million to a group of junior lenders. New York Supreme Court Judge Andrew Borrock this week granted a summary judgment to a group of the mall’s private financers, who sued in February, alleging the mall failed
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he favored more monetary policy tightening to reduce persistently high inflation, although he said he was prepared to adjust his stance if needed if credit tightens more than expected. “Because financial conditions have not significantly tightened, the labor market continues to be strong and quite tight, and inflation is
S&P Global Ratings on Friday raised Massachusetts’s general obligation long-term credit rating to AA-plus from AA, and upgraded bonds backed by annual appropriations from the state. “The upgrade reflects our view that the commonwealth’s commitment to strengthen its budget management practices supported by the state’s improved reserves and a strong economy will be sustained through
California legislation designed to alter transparency laws that have had a “chilling effect” on bond measure passage cleared its first hurdle. The Senate’s Governance and Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 532 by a 5-1 vote Wednesday, the bill will now move to the Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who
New York City’s economy is progressing, Upstate New York’s is sluggish and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ is struggling in a post-COVID world. Analysts with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York made these and other observations at a web conference Thursday morning on how Federal Reserve District 2’s economy has recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic
Alabama is betting a stake in its economic future on one of its oldest industries. Coal has long been a staple of the state’s economy and could continue to be as state and private sector partners move to phase out mining coal for power generation and raise production of the type of coal needed for
Federal Reserve policymakers scaled back their expectations for rate hikes this year after a series of bank collapses roiled markets last month, and stressed they would remain vigilant for the potential of a credit crunch to further slow the economy, a record of the meeting showed. “Many participants noted that the likely effects of recent
Illinois’ positive rating momentum and near-term budgetary commitment to raising higher education funding helped lift the University of Illinois’ and Illinois State University’s ratings. Moody’s Investors Service last month upgraded Illinois State University’s issuer and auxiliary facilities system ratings to A3 from Baa1 and its certificates of participation rose two notches to A3 from Baa2. The upgrade impacts
Some capacity was restored to a nearly depleted Texas school bond guarantee program last month after state officials took action, but even more demand for the cost-saving enhancement is expected in the wake of upcoming bond elections. The latest data for the Permanent School Fund (PSF) program showed projected available capacity of $5.4 billion on
Tennessee will turn to tolls and public-private partnerships to meet the mounting costs of managing its roadways. Gov. Bill Lee’s Transportation Modernization Act cleared its last legislative hurdle Thursday as theGeneral Assembly approved his $3.3 billion package allowing for the use of P3s for highways for the first time in the state’s history. “Tennessee is
A $2.1 billion project in Tempe that includes an arena for the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes is facing organized opposition and litigation as it awaits its fate with city voters next month. The mostly privately financed mixed-use development, which would use municipal bonds to fund site cleanup and infrastructure costs, has been the target
The California State Treasurer’s Office will pick up the tab for the May interest payment on bonds issued for a state research laboratory damaged by massive flooding in Tulare, a city in the state’s agricultural stronghold in the Central Valley. The California State Public Works board filed an event notice Thursday saying damage to the
Idaho lawmakers resurrected and reworked a property tax relief bill that Gov. Brad Little vetoed earlier this week, saying the original legislation put a transportation bond sale in jeopardy. Little vetoed House Bill 292 because it re-ordered the priority of statutory claims on sales taxes, putting property tax relief ahead of the state’s Transportation Expansion
Michigan’s fiscal 2022 tax surge will result in a $650 million income tax cut, but it will remain in place only for 2023, state officials announced Wednesday. All signs pointed to an income tax cut when state finance officials and economic forecasters discussed the fiscal landscape at the annual February revenue estimating conference but Treasurer
A provision in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed $114.8 billion budget for fiscal 2023-2024 would accelerate the state’s efforts to shrink its debt portfolio. The proposed budget provides for the early retirement of some state debt as well as creating a state investment fund and a debt reduction program. The budget package is under consideration
Hawaii had the outlook on more than $2 billion in debt for its airport system and rental car facilities revised to positive from stable by Fitch Ratings in separate actions. The rating agency on Friday boosted the outlook to positive on the bonds issued by the state’s Department of Transportation, Airport Division, for capital projects
A project to build out Vermont’s broadband infrastructure is facing several hurdles to its completion that could affect costs and schedules, according to a report by the state auditor’s office. Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer said in a recently published investigative report that “one of the largest infrastructure projects in state history” to improve broadband
The Illinois Finance Authority, in its role as the state’s climate bank, is ramping up efforts to establish new financing options for green initiatives with a slate of federal funding applications in the works aimed at moving the state toward clean energy, climate, and equity goals. The 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act package, negotiated