The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires permanent easements that grant government access in perpetuity to justify using federal taxpayer funds for beach renourishment projects, and the Corps has stated it will not construct projects that contain gaps caused by missing easements because engineered projects cannot provide the intended level of protection when constructed with gaps.
October 08, 2025
high
policy
Federal cost-sharing and construction standards for coastal beach renourishment projects.
Historically, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has funded about 65% of the costs of many beach restoration projects, with the remaining costs typically covered by local governments or nonfederal partners.
October 08, 2025
high
financial
Typical federal-local cost-sharing arrangements for coastal restoration.
Beach renourishment projects commonly involve dredging sand from offshore and pumping it onto the shore to widen beaches, and when private property owners refuse to grant permanent easements project sponsors may place new sand on the publicly owned seaward side of the beach, which can create gaps in protection and concentrate storm surge at unprotected private properties in future storms.
October 08, 2025
high
process
Typical engineering methods and risk implications for coastal nourishment when easements are not granted.
Gold is commonly regarded as a safe-haven asset that investors purchase during periods of financial or geopolitical turmoil.
October 08, 2025
high
descriptive
Describes a widely observed investor behavior and role of gold in markets.
National central banks can diversify foreign-exchange reserves by increasing allocations to gold, and large central-bank purchases can materially influence gold prices because of their substantial buying capacity.
October 08, 2025
high
descriptive
Explains a mechanism through which official demand can affect commodity prices.
U.S. Treasury securities have historically been regarded as a primary global safe asset, while gold serves as an alternative safe-haven asset that is not denominated in a fiat currency.
October 08, 2025
high
descriptive
Places two commonly used safe assets in comparative context.
Investors sometimes seek assets that are not tied to fiat currencies, such as gold and bitcoin, to hedge against risks like currency depreciation, sovereign debt concerns, and economic or policy uncertainty.
October 08, 2025
high
descriptive
Describes a motive for diversifying into non-fiat-denominated assets.
The Essential Air Service program subsidizes flights to many rural U.S. airports and serves roughly 170 communities.
October 08, 2025
high
temporal
Federal program that provides subsidized air service to small or remote communities.
Air traffic controllers are classified as excepted (essential) federal employees who are required to continue working during a U.S. federal government shutdown and may not receive pay until appropriations resume.
October 08, 2025
high
temporal
Employment classification for certain federal workers during funding lapses.
U.S. federal employees who are furloughed during a government shutdown are generally entitled to receive retroactive (back) pay once government funding is restored.
October 08, 2025
high
temporal
Legal and budgetary practice affecting federal employment during government shutdowns.
The H-1B visa is a U.S. nonimmigrant visa category for skilled workers employed in specialty occupations.
October 08, 2025
high
definition
Describes the purpose and classification of the H-1B visa.
The J-1 visa is a U.S. nonimmigrant visa for short-term cultural exchange programs and generally does not provide a pathway to permanent residency.
October 08, 2025
high
definition
General description of the J-1 immigration category and its limitations relative to permanent residency
Nearly three-quarters of approved H-1B beneficiaries are citizens of India, and large technology companies are the largest users of the H-1B program.
October 08, 2025
high
statistic
Share of H-1B approvals by country of origin and primary employer sector
Gold is commonly viewed as a "safe-haven" asset that investors often buy during periods of economic or geopolitical uncertainty.
October 08, 2025
high
general
Describes the typical role of gold in investor portfolios during times of market stress.
Gold prices tend to rise when the U.S. dollar weakens.
October 08, 2025
high
general
Relationship between gold price movements and dollar strength is a commonly observed market dynamic.
Physical gold does not pay dividends or interest and investing in physical gold typically incurs storage, security, and insurance costs, so returns depend on selling the metal at a higher price than the purchase price.
October 08, 2025
high
general
Describes structural characteristics and carrying costs of holding physical gold as an investment.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), often called Obamacare, includes premium tax credits (subsidies) that lower health insurance premiums for people who purchase coverage through health insurance marketplaces.
October 08, 2025
high
definition
Describes the role of premium tax credits within the ACA marketplace framework.
The Federal Reserve maintains an inflation target of 2%.
October 08, 2025
high
policy
Official inflation target used to guide U.S. monetary policy
Interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve can gradually lower borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and business loans, which tends to encourage more consumer spending and business hiring.
October 08, 2025
high
economic_mechanism
Typical transmission mechanism of conventional monetary policy
The Federal Reserve relies on regular economic data releases such as the monthly jobs report and inflation report to inform its monetary policy decisions, and disruptions to those data releases can impede policy decision-making.
October 08, 2025
high
data_dependency
Monetary policymakers use incoming economic data to assess labor market and inflation conditions
Federal Reserve policymakers often differ in emphasis when setting interest-rate policy, with some prioritizing the risk of rising unemployment and others prioritizing the risk of persistent inflation above the 2% target.
October 08, 2025
high
governance
Divergent policy preferences among central bank officials influence the timing and size of rate changes
Many U.S. air traffic controllers are represented by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
October 08, 2025
high
institutional
Labor representation for U.S. air traffic controllers.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) states that the United States is experiencing a national shortage of air traffic controllers and has called for accelerated training and hiring to address staffing vulnerabilities.
October 08, 2025
high
operational
Organizational assessment and recommended response to controller staffing shortfalls.
Research organizations that depend heavily on government grants but lack tuition or endowment revenue are vulnerable to financial shock from grant or contract terminations because they lack the buffering revenue sources that many universities have.
October 08, 2025
high
descriptive
Financial vulnerability of non-university research organizations reliant on government funding
The Beveridge Curve represents the relationship between job vacancies and unemployment, illustrating how combinations of vacancies and unemployment reflect labor market efficiency.
October 07, 2025
high
conceptual
Economic concept used to assess labor market tightness and matching efficiency between workers and jobs.
The U.S. Federal Reserve's statutory dual mandate directs it to pursue price stability (low and stable inflation) and maximum (full) employment.
October 07, 2025
high
conceptual
Guiding objectives that frame Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.
In so-called jobless recoveries, accommodative monetary policy can support growth in employment provided inflation is not rising.
October 07, 2025
high
conceptual
Describes a historical pattern where recovery in output does not immediately translate into employment gains and policy can help support labor market recovery when inflation is under control.
During U.S. federal government shutdowns, federal agencies typically send home (furlough) workers whose roles are not considered essential.
October 07, 2025
high
process
Describes common administrative action taken by federal agencies during funding lapses.
Furloughs of federal employees during U.S. government shutdowns are typically temporary, and once Congress resolves the funding standoff employees generally return to work and receive back pay.
October 07, 2025
high
process
Describes the usual outcome for federal workers furloughed during funding gaps.
U.S. federal government shutdowns can disrupt or delay the regular release of key economic data.
October 07, 2025
high
process
When federal agencies suspend operations or reduce staffing during shutdowns, scheduled economic statistics and reports are often postponed or interrupted.
Advances in artificial intelligence have the potential to displace or eliminate certain jobs across sectors.
October 07, 2025
medium
trend
AI-driven automation and machine learning can substitute for human labor in some tasks, affecting employment composition and demand for certain skills.
During U.S. federal government shutdowns, some federal employees continue to work but do not receive pay while the shutdown is in effect.
October 07, 2025
high
process
Describes the status of some federal employees during shutdowns who perform work without immediate compensation.
A White House webpage listed total investment commitments at $8.8 trillion in 2025.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Government-published aggregate of reported investment commitments
In 2025, the U.S. economy continued to grow while hiring slowed and inflation remained elevated.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
General macroeconomic conditions described for 2025.
As of 2025, the U.S. federal budget deficit was nearly $2 trillion on an annual basis.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Statement about fiscal sustainability referenced for 2025.
A 15-year mortgage typically has higher monthly principal-and-interest payments than a 30-year mortgage for the same loan amount, but it pays off the loan in about half the time and generally results in substantially lower total interest paid over the life of the loan.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Comparison of common fixed-rate mortgage term lengths and their typical financial trade-offs.
Standard quoted monthly mortgage payments usually cover only principal and interest; property taxes, homeowners insurance, and private mortgage insurance (PMI) are additional costs that increase the actual monthly housing payment.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Components of a borrower's total monthly housing payment beyond principal and interest.
A decline in mortgage interest rates lowers the monthly principal-and-interest payment for a given loan amount and can improve housing affordability and a borrower's chances of qualifying for a mortgage.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
How changes in mortgage interest rates affect monthly payments and loan qualification.
A 2025 report from the Internal Revenue Service Office of Inspector General found that key IRS filing-season functions had lost 17% to 19% of their workforce, including an 18% reduction in fraud-detection staff and a 25% reduction in information-technology services staff.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Workforce levels in IRS units that support tax filing and implementation of tax-law changes.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) included tax-law changes that require the Internal Revenue Service to implement new deductions for overtime and tips.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Tax-law provisions created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that affect IRS filing rules and taxpayer deductions.
A federal government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to enact funding by the statutory deadline, which leads to suspension of non-essential federal services and furloughs while many essential federal employees and active-duty service members may be required to continue working without pay.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
General description of how U.S. federal funding lapses affect operations and staffing.
As of 2025, about 24 million people who do not have employer-based insurance or coverage through public programs such as Medicaid use the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces to buy health plans.
October 06, 2025
high
temporal
Scale of enrollment in ACA marketplaces among people without employer or public program coverage.
The U.S. federal budget deficit was nearly $2 trillion annually as of 2025.
October 06, 2025
medium
statistic
Reported magnitude of the U.S. annual federal budget deficit referenced in coverage of fiscal sustainability.
Federal officials have warned that terminating or furloughing federal employees during a government funding lapse can violate U.S. appropriations law.
October 05, 2025
high
legal
Appropriations law governs use of federal funds and can constrain personnel actions taken during a government shutdown or funding lapse.
Labor unions representing federal employees may sue the government over alleged unlawful threats or actions to use federal employees as leverage during budget or funding negotiations.
October 05, 2025
high
litigation
Unions can pursue legal remedies when they allege that executive actions during funding disputes unlawfully target federal workers.
When the U.S. federal government shuts down, agencies typically furlough employees who are not considered essential.
October 05, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a standard administrative outcome of federal government shutdowns.
Furloughed federal employees typically return to work and receive back pay once Congress resolves a government shutdown.
October 05, 2025
high
temporal
Typical practice following resolution of past U.S. federal government shutdowns.
Past U.S. federal government shutdowns have tended to cause temporary disruptions rather than prolonged economic shocks, with markets and jobs generally rebounding relatively quickly after resolution.
October 05, 2025
high
temporal
Summary observation about economic impacts from historical U.S. federal government shutdowns.
Agrofert is a conglomerate composed of about 200 companies operating in agriculture, food, chemical, and media sectors.
October 05, 2025
high
descriptive
Agrofert is a major Czech corporate group historically associated with Andrej Babiš.
As of 2025-10-01, the average home equity level was reported to be over $300,000.
October 01, 2025
high
statistical
High-level national average home equity reported in October 2025.
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) typically carries a variable interest rate that can change monthly based on market conditions.
October 01, 2025
high
definition
General description of HELOC interest-rate behavior.
During the draw period of a HELOC, borrowers are generally required to make payments only on amounts they have actually drawn, and repayment of the drawn balance is typically required after the draw period ends.
October 01, 2025
high
procedural
Typical repayment structure for HELOCs.
A $150,000 HELOC amortized over 10 years at a 7.89% interest rate yields a monthly payment of approximately $1,811.21, and amortized over 15 years at the same rate yields a monthly payment of approximately $1,423.97 (example figures cited in October 2025).
October 01, 2025
high
statistical
Illustrative monthly-payment calculations for a $150,000 HELOC at 7.89% interest.
Variable-rate home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) track short-term benchmark rates such as the prime rate, and those benchmarks often move with the Federal Reserve's federal funds rate, so a Federal Reserve rate cut can quickly lower monthly payments on variable-rate HELOCs.
October 01, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the typical linkage between HELOC pricing and short-term benchmark rates influenced by Federal Reserve policy.
Home equity lending rates are influenced by Federal Reserve policy, inflation data, bond yields, overall demand for credit, national unemployment statistics, and local housing market conditions.
October 01, 2025
high
temporal
Enumerates common macroeconomic and local factors that shape home equity interest rates.
The U.S. federal government collected roughly $215 billion in tariffs in fiscal year 2025 (October 1, 2024–September 30, 2025), according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
September 30, 2025
high
temporal
Total tariff revenue collected by the U.S. federal government for fiscal year 2025.
The U.S. Treasury Department reported that the U.S. federal government collected roughly $215 billion in tariffs during the 2025 fiscal year, which ran from October 2024 to September 30, 2025.
September 30, 2025
high
statistical
Aggregate tariff revenue reported for the U.S. federal government's 2025 fiscal year.
The Federal Reserve's minutes from its September 16–17, 2025 policy meeting reported that a few participants favored keeping the federal funds rate unchanged at that meeting while almost all participants supported a subsequent rate cut.
September 16, 2025
high
temporal
Summarizes participants' voting preferences and division of views reported in the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes.
The Federal Reserve's 2025 meeting minutes indicated that most participants judged it likely would be appropriate to implement further interest rate cuts over the remainder of 2025.
September 16, 2025
high
temporal
Officials' forward guidance on the potential path of interest rate policy.
The Federal Reserve's 2025 meeting minutes reported that some officials said progress toward the Committee's 2 percent inflation objective had stalled in 2025 and that this year's tariff increases had contributed to higher inflation readings and the risk of more persistent inflation expectations.
September 16, 2025
high
temporal
Officials' assessment of inflation dynamics and the influence of tariff increases on inflation readings and expectations.
The Federal Reserve's 2025 meeting minutes recorded that several participants viewed continued adoption of artificial intelligence as potentially reducing labor demand.
September 16, 2025
high
temporal
Officials' assessment of structural forces affecting the labor market.
The October 2025 ICE Mortgage Monitor report found that 30-year mortgage rates averaged 6.26% in mid-September 2025.
September 15, 2025
high
temporal
Interest-rate level reported by a mortgage market monitor.
A 2025 Realtor.com analysis using First Street data found that approximately 18.3% of U.S. homes were at severe or extreme risk from hurricane wind damage, representing roughly $8 trillion in property value.
September 07, 2025
high
temporal
National estimate of hurricane wind exposure and associated property value from a Realtor.com analysis using First Street data.
A September 2025 Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll found that 37% of U.S. adults approved of President Donald Trump's handling of the economy.
September 01, 2025
high
temporal
Public opinion polling on presidential economic performance
According to Bankrate in 2025, the average 5-year home equity loan interest rate was 8.21%.
September 01, 2025
high
statistical
Reported average interest rate for 5-year fixed home equity loans.
According to Bankrate in 2025, average home equity line of credit (HELOC) interest rates were below 8%.
September 01, 2025
high
statistical
Reported average interest rate range for variable-rate HELOC products.
A 2025 analysis by Harris Search Associates found that among 76 members of the Association of Independent Research Institutes (AIRI), 18 institutes had at least one grant or contract terminated through 2025-08-01.
August 01, 2025
high
statistical
Findings from a 2025 analysis of canceled federal grants and contracts affecting AIRI members
The Internal Revenue Service employed 74,299 people as of July 24, 2025, representing a decline in staffing compared with the end of 2024.
July 24, 2025
high
temporal
Reported mid-2025 IRS employment level and the change from end-2024.
At the end of the first quarter of 2025 (March 31, 2025), France's public debt stood at €3.346 trillion, equivalent to 114% of gross domestic product (GDP).
March 31, 2025
high
statistical
Baseline public finance statistic for France
In 2024, China purchased $12.6 billion worth of soybeans from the United States, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
December 31, 2024
high
temporal
Annual value of U.S. soybean exports to China for calendar year 2024.
The Internal Revenue Service employed about 100,000 people at the end of 2024.
December 31, 2024
high
temporal
Baseline staffing level for the IRS at the end of 2024.
Roughly 322,000 U.S. properties entered foreclosure in 2024.
January 01, 2024
high
temporal
Annual count of U.S. properties that went into foreclosure during 2024.
The federal government spent more than $7 billion on the WIC program during fiscal 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
January 01, 2024
high
temporal
Federal expenditure on WIC for fiscal year 2024
A study analyzing 2018–2022 data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study by the National Council on Aging and the University of Massachusetts Boston's LeadingAge LTSS Center found that low-income people aged over 60 die an average of nine years earlier than high-income older Americans.
December 31, 2022
high
temporal
Quantifies an association between income level and mortality among older Americans using longitudinal survey data.
The National Council on Aging and the University of Massachusetts Boston's LeadingAge LTSS Center found, using 2018–2022 Health and Retirement Study data, that about 15% of seniors in households with annual incomes of roughly $60,000 died during the four-year study period compared with about 11% of seniors in households with annual incomes of around $120,000.
December 31, 2022
high
temporal
Four-year mortality rates by approximate household income brackets among older Americans.
A report by the National Council on Aging based on 2018–2022 data stated that about 80% of people aged over 60 have few or zero financial assets and would struggle to cope with a financial shock such as the loss of a spouse or the need for long-term care.
December 31, 2022
high
temporal
Prevalence of limited financial assets among older adults and vulnerability to financial shocks.
A 2019 U.S. federal law addresses whether federal employees can receive back pay following a government shutdown.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Legal framework concerning federal employee compensation after government shutdowns.
A 2019 United States federal law requires that federal employees furloughed during a government shutdown receive back pay for the period of their furlough.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Federal law codifying retroactive pay for furloughed federal workers after a government shutdown.
A 2019 U.S. federal law is intended to ensure federal employees receive compensation after a government shutdown.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Statutory protection designed to provide back pay to federal workers following funding lapses.
A 2019 law established that federal workers furloughed during a federal government shutdown should receive backpay.
2019
high
temporal
Legislative change following a prolonged shutdown
In 2018, the U.S. government provided more than $20 billion in aid to American farmers in response to retaliatory tariffs imposed by China during the U.S.-China trade dispute.
January 01, 2018
high
historical-statistic
Aggregate size of federal aid delivered to U.S. farmers amid the 2018 U.S.-China tariff exchanges.
United States Department of Agriculture data shows China purchased $12.6 billion in U.S. soybeans in 2014, while the European Union purchased $2.45 billion in U.S. soybeans in 2014.
January 01, 2014
high
statistical
Historical U.S. agricultural export values by destination country.
Trade conflicts between major economies can reduce export demand for agricultural commodities and contribute to increased financial distress among farmers, including higher rates of farm bankruptcies.
high
economic
General relationship between international trade disputes and agricultural sector financial outcomes
Retaliatory tariffs on agricultural products can force farmers to sell crops at steep losses when access to major export markets is reduced.
high
trade_policy
Mechanism by which trade retaliation affects farm incomes
Mortgage interest rates are influenced by multiple factors including inflation, employment conditions, and expectations about central bank (Federal Reserve) policy.
high
temporal
Macroeconomic data and monetary policy expectations shape mortgage rate movements.
Mortgage interest rates tend to follow movements in the 10-year Treasury yield more closely than movements in the federal funds rate.
high
temporal
Long-term Treasury yields are a key benchmark for long-term lending rates such as 30-year fixed mortgages.
Markets often price in anticipated Federal Reserve policy moves, so mortgage rates can change based on expectations of future Fed actions rather than on the Fed's actual policy changes.
high
temporal
Interest-rate markets incorporate forward-looking expectations, which can cause rates to move before policy changes occur.
A certificate of deposit (CD) has a fixed interest rate that is guaranteed for the CD's term and does not change until the account reaches its maturity date.
high
descriptive
Describes how CDs deliver interest over their fixed term.
High-yield savings accounts have variable interest rates that can adjust over time and often decline when the Federal Reserve lowers benchmark interest rates.
high
descriptive
Explains the relationship between variable deposit rates and central bank policy.
Splitting funds between fixed-rate instruments such as CDs and variable-rate high-yield savings accounts lets savers obtain a guaranteed baseline return from the CD while retaining liquidity and the ability to make deposits and withdrawals via the savings account.
high
descriptive
General savings strategy to balance guaranteed returns and access to funds.
International trade disputes that involve tariffs or other restrictions can reduce export markets for crops such as soybeans and cause significant financial harm to soybean farmers.
high
economic
Describes how international trade conflicts can affect commodity crop markets and farm incomes.
Governments may deploy large-scale financial relief programs, including multi-billion-dollar packages, to compensate agricultural producers for income losses stemming from trade disruptions.
high
policy
General policy mechanism used to mitigate income losses in agriculture due to trade shocks.
Tariffs on imports can provoke retaliatory tariffs from affected trading partners.
high
trade-policy
General dynamic observed in international trade disputes where one country's tariffs prompt counter-tariffs.
Tariffs and related trade disruptions can raise production costs for domestic farmers by increasing prices for inputs such as fertilizer and farm equipment.
high
economic-impact
Mechanism by which trade policy can affect agricultural production costs.
China has been the largest buyer of U.S. agricultural exports.
high
trade
Relative importance of China as an export market for U.S. agricultural products.
Staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities can lead to flight delays.
high
temporal
Operational impact of staffing levels at air traffic control on flight operations.
Inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability are macroeconomic and geopolitical factors that are commonly associated with upward pressure on gold prices.
high
economic_driver
Gold is often viewed as a store of value and hedge, causing its price to react to inflation expectations and geopolitical risk.
The United States imposed a 40% tariff on certain Brazilian exports covering sectors such as petroleum, soybeans, sugar, coffee, and iron and steel products.
high
statistical
Describes the magnitude and targeted sectors of a U.S. tariff measure on Brazilian exports.
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes U.S. investigations into alleged unfair or discriminatory trade practices, and such investigations have historically been used as a prelude to imposing tariffs or broader economic sanctions.
high
legal
Explains the legal mechanism the U.S. can use to investigate and potentially respond to foreign trade practices.
Brazil is the United States' third-largest foreign supplier of meat, behind Australia and Canada.
high
statistical
Places Brazil's role in U.S. meat imports in a ranking context relative to other foreign suppliers.
HELOCs commonly include an initial draw period (often up to 10 years) during which borrowers can elect interest-only payments, which produce lower monthly payments than fully amortizing repayments but defer principal repayment.
high
general
Explains standard repayment options and the trade-off between lower near-term payments and deferred principal.
Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) generally carry interest rates that are substantially lower than unsecured credit card interest rates, making HELOC borrowing typically less expensive per dollar borrowed than credit cards.
high
general
Compares the typical cost of secured borrowing via home equity to unsecured consumer credit.
The United States Congress can pass special appropriations or standalone bills to provide pay or funding for specific groups or services.
high
procedural
Congressional appropriations authority allows targeted funding measures for particular categories of employees or functions through separate legislation.
Farm payment programs in the United States affect agricultural acreage measured in the tens of millions of acres.
medium
statistical
U.S. farm support and payment programs are administered at scale and influence planting, incomes, and land use across large acreages.
A U.S. government shutdown occurs when appropriations lapse and federal operations lack enacted funding.
high
temporal
General definition of a federal government shutdown
Furloughed federal employees typically return to their jobs once a government shutdown ends.
high
temporal
Common personnel practice surrounding the end of funding lapses
Government shutdowns can lead to furloughs of federal employees and prompt consideration of workforce reductions or other personnel actions by agencies or the executive branch.
high
temporal
Typical operational and personnel impacts associated with funding lapses
Investors commonly use gold as a safe-haven asset during periods of economic turmoil and as a hedge against rising inflation.
high
temporal
Describes typical investor behavior toward gold in adverse economic conditions.
Lower nominal interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, making gold relatively more attractive compared with interest-bearing government bonds such as Treasuries.
high
temporal
Explains a general monetary mechanism that can influence gold demand.
Purchases of gold by central banks tend to increase during periods of heightened geopolitical tensions, supporting overall gold demand.
medium
temporal
Links geopolitical risk to central-bank behavior and demand for gold.
The Federal Reserve's official inflation target is 2 percent.
high
policy
Inflation-targeting objective used to guide U.S. monetary policy
Reductions in a central bank's policy interest rate generally lead over time to lower borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and business loans, which tends to encourage consumer spending and business investment.
high
mechanism
Transmission mechanism of monetary easing to the broader economy
Monetary policymakers commonly balance a trade-off between lowering interest rates to support economic activity and keeping rates higher to control inflation.
high
principle
General policymaking consideration in setting interest rates
Policymakers typically consider labor market conditions and recent inflation trends when assessing whether additional policy easing is appropriate.
high
principle
Factors commonly weighed in decisions about interest-rate changes