John Ydstie

Obama Names OMB Controller As Acting IRS Commissioner

John Ydstie — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:25:00 +0000

On Thursday, President Obama named Daniel Werfel, 42, acting IRS commissioner. The announcement comes a day after the resignation of Steven Miller, who got caught up in the controversy over the IRS targeting Tea Party groups.

Yen's Drop In Value Could Fuel Curency War

John Ydstie — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:24:00 +0000

Japan has embarked on a massive effort to stimulate its economy. Both the government and the central bank are collaborating to end a long period of stagnation and deflation. But the effects are also being felt outside Japan.

Budget Deficit Outlook Improves Since February

John Ydstie — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:19:00 +0000

As the economy improves, the federal budget deficit is growing dramatically smaller. The Congressional Budget Office has sharply revised its estimates from just a few months ago, knocking off $200 billion in red ink for the current fiscal year. Some temporary factors are being cited for the projected improvement.

CBO now says it expects the budget shortfall to be $642 billion this year. That's still large, but far better than the trillion-dollar-plus deficits of the previous four years.

Housing Recovery Lifts Other Sectors, Too

John Ydstie — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:27:00 +0000

The government's employment report for April comes out Friday. It's an important measure of the economy's health and the advance signals have been mixed. One report this week showed layoffs falling to a five-year low, but another suggests disappointing jobs creation.

At least one sector is providing some positive news for the job market: housing.

It was only a year or so ago that housing was a big drag on the economy, and the main reason for the disappointing recovery. But that's changed. Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S.

Regulators Warn Banks On Direct-Deposit Loans

John Ydstie — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:16:00 +0000

Consumer advocates call them "debt" traps. The banks that offer them call them direct-deposit advances and describe them as available funds for short-term emergencies.

But the cash advances have many of the negative characteristics of payday loans. And on Thursday, U.S. bank regulators took a step toward protecting consumers from the risks they pose.

IMF Trims Its Global Growth Forecast

John Ydstie — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:44:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

The International Monetary Fund has trimmed its forecast for global growth.

NPR's John Ydstie reports the outlook was adjusted downward, largely because so much of Europe is still in recession.

JOHN YDSTIE, BYLINE: The IMF projects the Euro area economy will shrink three-tenths of a percent this year, but return to positive growth next year.

Meanwhile, the IMF forecast, called the World Economic Outlook, predicts the U.S. will grow just under two percent this year and around three percent in 2014.

U.S.

Japan's Big Stimulus Move Shocks Globe's Market Watchers

John Ydstie — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:49:00 +0000

Currency traders were stunned last week by aggressive action from Japan's central bank. The Bank of Japan embarked on a bond-buying program that, by one measure, is twice the size of the extraordinary moves by Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve in the United States. The BOJ's move is an effort to shock the Japanese economy out of more than a decade of sluggish growth and deflation.

Jens Nordvig, global head of currency strategy at Nomura Securities, was one of many market watchers surprised by the strength of the Bank of Japan's move.

Cyprus' Crisis Frames Eurozone As 'Work In Progress'

John Ydstie — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:07:00 +0000

On the second day since Cyprus reopened its banks, depositors continue to face restrictions on getting at their money. ATM withdrawals are limited to 300 euros a day, and there are limits on how much cash travelers can take abroad.

The controls are designed to keep worried depositors from draining the banks and moving money out of the country.

Census Bureau: Americans Burdened By High Debt

John Ydstie — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:49:00 +0000

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

NPR's business news starts with high debt and low wealth.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: Since the financial crisis, many Americans have been saving money and paying down debt. Many are in better financial shape than a few years ago.

Federal Reserve To Hold Interest Rates Low Until Unemployment Improves

John Ydstie — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:44:00 +0000

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

And I'm Melissa Block.

Keep the pedal to the metal. That was the message from the Federal Reserve today after two days of meetings. The Fed is sticking with its policy of ultra low interest rates aimed at boosting economic growth. There have been some positive signs lately from the job and housing markets. And some Fed economists are concerned that continued low rates could lead to inflation, and financial instability.

Odd Political Bedfellows Agree: Banks Still Too Big To Fail

John Ydstie — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:21:00 +0000

Amid Washington's dysfunction, one issue has united some liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans: a common concern that "too big to fail" is alive and well.

Despite the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, these lawmakers believe the nation's largest banks still pose a threat to the economy and that the government will step in to bail them out if they get in trouble.

At a recent hearing on Capitol Hill, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., confronted Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke with her concerns. "We've now understood this problem for nearly five years," she said.

Time For The Fed To Take Away The Punch Bowl?

John Ydstie — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:58:00 +0000

The stock market's long climb from its recession bottom has some people concerned it may be a bubble about to burst — a bubble artificially pumped up by the Federal Reserve's easy-money policy. That's led to calls — even from within the Fed — for an end to the central bank's extraordinary efforts to keep interest rates low.

Even as the Dow Jones industrial average was reaching its nominal record Tuesday, Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, continued his criticism of the central bank's massive intervention, calling it unhealthy.

Economists Debate Sequestration's Effect On Economy

John Ydstie — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:16:00 +0000

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the automatic budget cuts that go into effect Friday will shave 0.6 percent from the economy's annual growth rate. That might not be a big worry if the economy were growing at 3 or 4 percent. But growth is a paltry 2 percent, so the impact may be noticeable.

Obama To Urge Japan To Join Trans-Pacific Partnership

John Ydstie — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:42:00 +0000

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets with President Obama at the White House Friday for discussions that will focus on both security and economic issues. The U.S. is pushing Japan to join a regional trade pact known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but Japan wants the U.S. to agree to special conditions first.

Eurozone Economies Declined In 2012

John Ydstie — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:12:00 +0000

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

NPR's business news starts with Europe's rocky economy.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

WERTHEIMER: It was a tough three months for the eurozone at the end of last year. The area fell deeper into recession.

And as NPR's John Ydstie reports, it's expected to remain in recession well into 2013.

JOHN YDSTIE, BYLINE: The output of the eurozone fell six-tenths of a percent in the final three months of last year, according to a report from Eurostat.

Lew Expected To Be Confirmed As Treasury Secretary

John Ydstie — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:05:00 +0000

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Jack Lew, President Obama's pick for Treasury secretary, appears headed toward confirmation by the full Senate.

Lew Criticized For Citigroup Connection During Senate Confirmation Hearing

John Ydstie — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:22:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Now to the nation's capitol, where senators are considering the president's nominee to manage the country's finances. Jacob Jack Lew is slated to replace Timothy Geithner as secretary of Treasury, and the Senate Finance Committee posed questions to him today. As NPR's John Ydstie reports, everyone was on their best behavior. It was nothing like the slugfest Geithner had at his confirmation four years ago.

JOHN YDSTIE, BYLINE: Maybe it's Jacob Lew's mild-mannered personality. He has the disposition of a collie compared to Geithner's feisty terrier.

What Would Obama Do (If There's No Debt Ceiling Deal)?

John Ydstie — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 11:42:00 +0000

Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Simon.

You might've chuckled a bit this week, if you heard about the trillion-dollar platinum coin plan, to perhaps address Washington, D.C.'s debt ceiling stalemate. But it will certainly be no laughing matter if the U.S. Congress refuses to raise the borrowing limit, and the U.S. government defaults on its debt.

Geithner Began With 'Smoldering' Economy; What Does He Leave?

John Ydstie — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:44:00 +0000

Outgoing Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has had a bruising four years. He took office when the U.S. economy was plunging into the worst recession since the Great Depression.

Nominating Jack Lew as Geithner's successor Thursday, President Obama praised his departing Treasury secretary for helping to get the economy back on track.

"With the wreckage of our economy still smoldering and unstable, I asked Tim to help put it back together," Obama said.

After The Fiscal Cliff, Businesses Say Some Uncertainty Remains

John Ydstie — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:43:00 +0000

Businesses complained that the uncertainty surrounding the "fiscal cliff" froze their decisions about hiring and expanding, which hurt the economy. Washington has now managed half a deal, which settles tax issues, at least for the time being. But has that removed enough uncertainty to boost some business hiring and investment?

Vickers Engineering in New Troy, Mich., makes parts for auto companies, agriculture equipment manufacturers and the oil and gas industry.

Reading The Economic Tea Leaves For 2013

John Ydstie — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 21:38:00 +0000

The U.S. economy was a bit of a disappointment in 2012. During the early months of the year, job creation was surprisingly strong, but by the end of the year, uncertainty about the election and the "fiscal cliff" slowed the economy's forward motion.

The Fed Boosts The Economy, But What About The Risks?

John Ydstie — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 22:32:00 +0000

The Federal Reserve continued to keep its foot on the accelerator in 2012, using unusual tactics to try to boost economic growth.

Failure To Avert Fiscal Cliff Could Damage World's Confidence In U.S.

John Ydstie — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:06:00 +0000

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

And I'm Melissa Block. It's time for Plan C. Washington's efforts to avoid massive tax hikes and spending cuts come January 1st seem to be in disarray. Last night, House Speaker John Boehner failed to get enough Republicans to go along with what he called his Plan B.

Fed To Keep Short-Term Interest Rates Low

John Ydstie — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:53:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

In the U.S., the Federal Reserve now says it intends to keep its benchmark interest rate exceptionally low until the unemployment rate reaches six and a half percent. It's the first time the Fed has named a specific thresh-hold for when it would begin raising interest rates.

NPR's John Ydstie has more.

JOHN YDSTIE, BYLINE: The historic change in Fed communications with the public and the markets was announced after the regular two-day policy-making meeting yesterday.

Fed Tying Low Interest Rates To Job Creation

John Ydstie — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:23:00 +0000

Federal Reserve policymakers issued a statement Wednesday saying they will keep interest rates low until the unemployment rate falls to 6.5 percent. Identifying a specific target for unemployment is a big change for the Fed and is part of its effort to become more transparent.

Obama, Business Roundtable Disagree Over Taxes

John Ydstie — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:12:00 +0000

President Obama is lobbying the CEOs of the nation's largest companies to support him as he tries to reach a budget deal with Republican lawmakers. The president met Wednesday with members of the Business Roundtable. The group urges the extension of Bush-era tax cuts for everyone, including the wealthy.

Republican Plan Would Change Social Security COLA

John Ydstie — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 23:05:00 +0000

The Republican plan to avert the "fiscal cliff" that the White House rejected Monday includes at least one element that's likely to produce controversy: a proposal that would, among other things, affect the cost of living adjustment for Social Security.

"The basic argument is that the current annual inflation adjustment for Social Security and some other federal benefits overstates the true impact of inflation," NPR economics correspondent John Ydstie tells Audie Cornish

Raising Taxes On The Rich: Canny Or Counterproductive?

John Ydstie — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:30:00 +0000

As negotiations continue in Washington over a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff — that combination of tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled for Jan. 1 — one big sticking point is whether to raise tax rates for high-income Americans.

Congress and the White House constructed the cliff last year, thinking it would force them to focus on solving the deficit problem. But they're still battling over what approach makes the most sense.

President Obama and other Democrats have been clear that they think raising tax rates for the wealthy is a sensible way to raise revenue and narrow the budget gap.

How Much Income Taxes Could Rise: A Breakdown Of The Options

John Ydstie — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:04:00 +0000

"No substantive progress has been made." That's what House Speaker John Boehner had to say Thursday about efforts to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases at year's end.

The administration's lead negotiator, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, met with congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle Thursday, looking for an agreement on the hazard Congress and the White House created last year to focus their minds on deficit reduction.

Perhaps the most important sticking point is over income tax rates.

Head Of SEC To Step Down After Four Years

John Ydstie — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:48:00 +0000

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairwoman Mary Schapiro is stepping down. She took over the agency in 2009 as it was reeling from criticism over the financial crisis and the Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. Schapiro is credited as a consensus builder who restored some stability to the SEC. She is being replaced by SEC commissioner Elisse Walter.