This was a disappointing number relative to expectations and certainly consistent with the idea that consumer spending is going to be a much smaller contributor to economic growth in the fourth quarter.

241

The US absorbs exports from across the world. So there will be ripple effects, as well as the indirect impact of the oil price.

221

This doesn't look like an economy that's rolling over. This looks like an economy that has shown resilience and continues to move ahead.

203

This is a Fed that has demonstrated excellent crisis management skills. But by the time we come to November, the Fed should be able to act with a greater degree of confidence. A pause in November would mean a severe downgrade in the prospects for the economy while tightening in November would show that the effects of Hurricane Katrina were probably temporary.

202

Treasuries are a safe haven and obviously a place where oil producing countries could place money.

196

The November minutes were taken as a sign of an impending pause and I don't think the Fed wants to give that message. If the economy is still growing fast, they may have to raise rates above 5 percent.

159

I think the Fed keeps going as long as GDP growth stays between 3 percent and 4 percent. That would be not too hot to make them go faster or too cold to make them pause.

149

There's now a possibility of a pause whereas last week I would have described the thought as lunacy. But this does not necessarily portend a pause, ... The Fed will be busy in the next two weeks to come up with as much hard information as to the size and duration of the hurricane effect.

140

Foreigners continued to buy a considerable amount of securities here in the United States.

110