Summary: <p></p> <p>Ahead of their upcoming monthly meeting, Federal Reserve officials have hinted at possibly holding interest rates steady. And they’ve been using a few terms to describe the move — a “skip,” a “pause” and a “hold.” One listener called in to ask: What’s the difference? We’ll get into it and answer more of your questions, like why monetary policy tools are so blunt and the possibility of a common currency for BRICS countries. Plus, why your favorite radio program asks for money.</p> <p> </p> <p>Here’s everything we talked about today:</p> <p> </p> <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul></ul> </li> </ul> <p></p> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-18/fed-skip-sounds-like-the-new-pause-as-officials-weigh-policy#xj4y7vzkg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Fed Officials Consider Skipping a Hike in June — But Don’t Call It a Pause”</a> from Bloomberg</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/02/business/economy/federal-reserve-jobs-interest-rates.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Why May’s Jobs Data Complicates Inflation Picture for the Fed”</a> from The New York Times</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/2023/05/28/how-brics-became-a-real-club-and-why-others-want-in/5caecc7e-fdb7-11ed-9eb0-6c94dcb16fcf_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“How BRICS Became a Real Club and Why Others Want In”</a> from The Washington Post</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-01/brics-ministers-to-challenge-us-with-more-members-common-currency" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“BRICS Ministers to Challenge US With More Members, Common Currency”</a> from Bloomberg</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/01/26/inflation-white-house-experts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“What should the White House do to combat inflation? Experts weighed in with 12 ideas.”</a> from The Washington Post</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/08/11/1116229743/inflation-reduction-act-questions-answered" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“What the Inflation Reduction Act does and doesn’t do about rising prices”</a> from NPR</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.marketplace.org/2023/04/07/is-the-blunt-tool-of-monetary-policy-actually-just-a-dull-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Is the ‘blunt tool’ of monetary policy actually just a dull tool?”</a> from Marketplace</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-06-07/los-angeles-times-newsroom-layoffs-merida-soon-shiong">“</a><a href="https://variety.com/vip/why-media-tech-layoffs-are-skyrocketing-1235500078/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Media & Tech Layoffs Are Skyrocketing”</a> from Variety</li> <p> </p> <li> <a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/9/28/23375164/advertising-slow-growth-economy-digital-facebook-apple-snap-peter-kafka-column" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“The mysterious ad slump of 2022”</a> from Vox</li> <p></p> </ul> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p>Got a question about the economy, business or technology for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.</p> <p></p>
