Paul Anthony Ashworth[1] (born 29 September 1969[2]) is an English football manager and former player. (wikipedia)
It is not clear exactly why confidence is falling but it may have been dented by concerns over the cooling housing market. The contrast between the buoyancy of current economic conditions and caution over the future is now the sharpest since 9/11.
The wider impact of Hurricane Katrina on the national economy is now becoming evident and none of it is pretty.
This will no doubt give protectionists in Congress some ammunition as the mid term elections approach.
The bottom line is that a current account deficit of this unparalleled magnitude is unsustainable and there is no hope of it being resolved painlessly through higher exports alone. Instead it will require a big dollar depreciation alongside much weaker domestic demand for imports.
As far as the Fed is concerned, payrolls growth is probably just about right -- not too hot and not too cold.
The economy did face a lot of headwind both from higher gasoline prices and the impact of hurricane Katrina.
He has been careful to address all possible concerns about his leadership in Congress, in financial markets and among his Fed colleagues.
We previously feared growth could dip below 2 percent.
Today's inflation figures will reinforce the belief that the Fed only has one or two more interest-rate hikes up its sleeve before it rests. The lack of any significant upward pressure on inflation should help persuade the Fed to raise rates no higher than 5 percent.