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Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – September 23, 2024

Fed Cuts Rate for First Time in Four Years

The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 0.50% (50 basis points, or bps) on Wednesday, reducing it to 4.75%-5.0% from the previous range of 5.25%-5.50%. With inflation slowly heading towards the Fed’s target of 2% and continued fears of a weaker labor market, the Fed deemed that more aggressive action was appropriate. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – August 19, 2024

Job Reports Fuel Market Volatility

The unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in July, the highest level since October 2021. With inflation approaching long-term expectations, indication of a weaker labor market has recession talks creeping back into the market. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – July 12, 2024

June CPI Report Bolsters the Municipal Bond Market

Inflation fell in June for the first time since 2020, adding pressure on the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates later this year. The seasonally adjusted CPI report for last month showed that consumer prices decreased by 0.1% from May versus the 0.1% increase the markets had expected. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – June 14, 2024

May CPI Report Continues to Show Easing Inflation

The U.S. economy received another reprieve from sticky inflation readings when the latest CPI report released this week came in a little cooler than expected. This report has helped continue a trend of municipal bond rates declining from their 2024 highs seen at the end of May. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – May 17, 2024

Latest CPI Report Shows Easing Inflation

The US economy received a slight reprieve from recent hot inflation readings when the latest one released this week came in a little cooler than expected. The seasonally adjusted CPI report for the month of April showed that consumer prices increased by 0.3% from the prior month, slightly lower than the 0.4% reading the markets had expected. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – April 11, 2024

First Fed Rate Cut Pushed Back Again

The latest inflation report eclipsed consensus expectations for the third month in a row and markets responded accordingly. Bond yields increased, stock prices decreased, and interest rate traders now have only an approximately 50/50 probability of a 0.25% rate cut at the July Federal Reserve meeting. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – March 14, 2024

Markets Estimate First Fed Cut in June

Market expectations for the number of Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2024 continue to move lower and are now essentially aligned with the estimates provided by the Federal Reserve on December 12, 2023. Current probabilities indicate three, perhaps four, 0.25% cuts are likely in 2024, with the first cut occurring at the Fed’s June meeting. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – February 14, 2024

Economic Data Reduces Rate Cut Expectations

The latest round of jobs and inflation data came in hotter than consensus estimates, and markets have reacted accordingly by increasing bond yields and revising projections for when the Federal Reserve will have its first rate cut in 2024. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – January 16, 2024

Looking Back at 2023 and Ahead to 2024

In January 2023, the conventional wisdom of many market prognos-ticators was that the Federal Reserve would continue to raise its overnight rate in 2023, which would help reduce inflation, soften demand for labor, and likely tip the US economy into a mild recession. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – December 15, 2023

Markets Get Ahead of the Fed

With inflation and wage growth continuing to trend lower, markets have been bidding up bond prices (prices up, yields lower) in anticipation of next year’s rate cuts. That stated, some have argued that the bond market has overestimated how quickly the Fed will cut rates. Continue reading…

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – November 16, 2023

Markets Rally on Inflation Data

The march towards the Federal Reserve’s 2.0% inflation target will likely be uneven from here on in, but this week’s inflation data provided another month of steady progress, which reinforced the markets’ view that the Fed’s rate hiking cycle is indeed over. If so, the next step for the Fed might be to keep its messaging sufficiently hawkish so markets don’t get ahead of themselves by baking in rate cuts faster than what Fed officials believe will be necessary to tame inflation.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – October 5, 2023

Understanding the Role and Value of a Municipal Advisor

One of the most important questions facing an issuer in the debt issuance process is whether to engage a Municipal Advisor (MA), an underwriter or both. Some issuers have historically conflated the two roles, a practice that was much more prevalent prior to the inception of Rule G-23 of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), which prohibits a single firm from acting as both underwriter and MA on the same bond issue.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – September 15, 2023

Focus on the Core

Broadly speaking, consumer prices were notably higher in August than the previous month, but this was expected due to known increases in crude oil and gasoline prices. While progress on inflation is mixed it does continue on core inflation measures while the labor market continues to slowly cool. This gives the Federal Reserve (the Fed) the green light to keep the rates unchanged on September 20, but leaves the door open for one potential rate hike later in 2023.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – August 11, 2023

Feels Like Mile 20

A marathon is 26.2 miles, but runners have an old saying that a marathon begins at mile 20, meaning this is where the hard part starts. Some might say the Federal Reserve (the Fed) is at mile 20 on its inflation taming mission. Core inflation, measurements that exclude volatile food and energy prices, are slowly improving but are still in near 4.5% on an annual basis.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – July 14, 2023

Inflation Progress Inches Along

The latest round of core inflation data, measurements that exclude volatile food and energy prices, continues its slow and steady march lower. However, with core inflation still substantially higher than the Federal Reserve’s (the Fed), 2.0% target, and a labor market that continues to exhibit low unemployment and meaningful wage growth, there is still much work to do.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – June 16, 2023

A Fed Pause or a Skip?

As expected, for the first time in 15 months the Federal Reserve (the Fed) did not change its overnight rate at a regularly scheduled Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Less expected was that the latest Summary of Economic Projections had a majority of FOMC participants indicating that appropriate monetary policy would include two more rate increases this year. While most market participants were hoping for a Fed pause, meaning that the Fed is done raising rates for this cycle, the Fed is projecting that June’s meeting was a skip, meaning the Fed will need to raise rates yet again in 2023 to fight sticky inflation.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – May 12, 2023

Fed Looks Ready to Pause

As expected, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) increased its overnight rate by 0.25% on May 3, bringing the federal funds rate range to 5.00%-5.25%, and there were notable changes to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement. Removed was language indicating the FOMC anticipates some additional tightening would be appropriate and added was language regarding the need to closely monitor incoming information and assess the implications for monetary policy. The Fed has telegraphed the previous 10 consecutive rate increases and barring some unexpected economic data between now and the second week in June, the Fed looks ready to pause.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – April 14, 2023

Economic Data Points to Another Fed Increase in May

Recent economic data indicates a still strong albeit cooling labor market, and inflation that continues to move lower, but remains at elevated levels. This data coupled with the stabilizing of the U.S. banking sector clears the way for the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to increase the overnight rate by 0.25% at its next meeting, which will conclude on May 3.

April 2023

Understanding Municipal Bonds | Should an Issuer Buy its Own Bonds?

Whether they are providing education, well-paved streets, or anything in between and beyond, units of local government have a specified purpose to provide for the public good. As public entities, local governments are not typically seen as sophisticated financial institutions that participate in complex financial instruments.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – March 16, 2023

Will Bank Failures Impact the Fed’s Rate Path?

At the start of last week financial markets were reasonably stable. There would be a jobs report on Friday, and then this week there would be consumer and producer inflation figures. Plenty of fresh economic data that would help inform the Federal Reserve’s next rate decision which is scheduled to be released on the afternoon of March 22, 2023.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – February 17, 2023

Hopes of a Meaningful Fed Pivot This Year Diminish

Over the past six months or so, there has been steady declines in both new jobs and aggregate measures of consumer inflation, leading some market participants to believe that the Federal Reserve (the Fed) will only need one or two 0.25% rate increases this year before it pivots towards rate reductions some time prior to the end of 2023.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – January 13, 2023

Looking Back at 2022 and Ahead to 2023

What a difference a year makes. In January 2022, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) kept its overnight rate at a range of zero to 0.25%, and was still committed to adding $30 billion to its balance sheet in February with the goal of ending its quantitative easing program in early March.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – December 15, 2022

Bond Market Data Indicates Confidence in Fed’s Resolve

Over the past week there have been two generally positive inflation reports, and the Federal Reserve (the Fed) increased its overnight rate as expected and reiterated its commitment to keeping rates higher for a longer period of time in order to bring inflation down to a more reasonable level.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – November 10, 2022

October Consumer Prices Ease Slightly

Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the consumer-price index (CPI) for October. The data provided some evidence that inflation is softening, but one month’s inflation report doesn’t necessarily make a trend.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – October 14, 2022

Core Inflation Exceeds Consensus Estimates

Economic data released over the past week indicate continued widespread inflationary pressures throughout the U.S. economy, although the impact of monetary tightening is becoming evident in some corners.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – September 14, 2022

Federal Reserve Expected to Stay Aggressive

Despite lower prices at the pump last month, the Labor Department’s consumer-price index (CPI) for August showed little improvement, which is expected to force the Federal Reserve to maintain its aggressive monetary policies for longer than most market participants were anticipating.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – August 12, 2022

Inflation, Inflation, Less Inflation

The Good News

The most recent inflation data was released on Wednesday, August 10th. The good news from this data is that headline inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in slightly lower than expected at a year-over-year rate of 8.5%. This suggests that inflation has slowed and, for the first time in months, a new 40-year high was not established.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – July 15, 2022

Accelerating Inflation Pressures Federal Reserve

Economic data released over the past week indicates continued inflationary pressures throughout the U.S. economy. The Labor Department reported on Tuesday, July 13, that the consumer-price index (CPI) increased by 9.1% for the 12 months ended in June, which exceeded May’s reading of 8.6%. While price increases were broad-based, gasoline, shelter, and food were the largest contributors, with the energy index contributing about half of June’s overall increase.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – June 17, 2022

The Fed Reacts to Higher-Than-Expected Inflation

Two weeks ago, there was broad acceptance by the market that the Federal Reserve would increase its overnight rate by 0.50% at its June 14-15 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Those perceptions began to shift after the Labor Department reported on Friday, June 10th that May’s consumer price index (CPI) increased from May 2021 by 8.6%, which marked a new 40-year high.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – May 13, 2022

The Fed Tightens – Inflation Persists

The Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met on May 3-4, 2022. As was widely expected by the market, the Fed increased its overnight rate by 0.50%, bringing the range to 0.75%-1.00%, and provided guidance on how the Fed would begin to reduce the size of its nearly $9.0 trillion balance sheet.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – March 14, 2022

Conflict in Ukraine Increases Fed’s Challenges

The Ukraine-Russia conflict is top of mind for many investors. Market volatility has risen substantially across U.S. fixed income and equity markets. This conflict will exacerbate the Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) most pressing challenge (i.e., controlling inflation), while likely limiting the magnitude of its ability to act due to a softening global economy.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – February 14, 2022

Inflation Drives Upward Trend in Rates

Over the last few weeks municipal bond rates have continued their trend upward that has so far defined the market in 2022. The rise in rates across bond markets was fueled again by the report out from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on February 10 showing a 7.5% year-over-year increase to the Consumer Price Index. This eclipses the 7% CPI number that came a month earlier marking the highest inflation since 1981.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – January 14, 2022

The Fed Responds to Inflation

Inflation continues to be the hot topic of 2022 as we start the new year. The final CPI data for 2021 was released earlier this week and showed a year-over-year CPI rate of 7%. This is the highest annual CPI rate since 1981 when it hit 8.9%. In December, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) concluded that inflation measures were higher than originally thought. In response, the Fed is now tasked with using its available toolkit to slow down inflation.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – December 17, 2021

Municipal Bond Rates Remain Low Despite Fed Policy Action

The Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) met this week and Chairman Jerome Powell released a statement summarizing its meeting on Wednesday, December 15th. While the statement did not contain any elements of surprise, the direction in which the Federal Reserve (the Fed) is moving is substantial and noteworthy. First, Chairman Powell failed to include the term “transitory” in his remarks for the first time in recent memory when referring to the FOMC’s inflationary expectations.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – November 19, 2021

Low Rates Remain Amidst Swirl of Inflation Speculation

Despite constant news reports and speculation around inflationary pressures in the current economic landscape, municipal bond rates showed a steady trend over the last two weeks. A report released by the US Department of Labor on November 10 showed a 6.2% increase in the consumer price index over a one-year period ending in October 2021. This represents the highest level of inflation in more than 30 years according to that metric.

Wisconsin Municipal Market Update – November 5, 2021

The Tapering Begins

On November 2-3, 2021 the Federal Reserve’s (the Fed) Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held one of its eight regularly scheduled meetings for the year. At the post-meeting press conference Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that short-term rates would be kept near zero (0.00 – 0.25%), but that the Federal Reserve would reduce the monthly pace of its net asset purchases by $10 billion for Treasury securities and $5 billion for agency mortgage-backed securities later this month.

PMA Wisconsin Webinars

JUNE 4, 2020

Preparing for 2019-20 Fiscal Year End COVID-19 Challenges | Click here

MAY 28, 2020

Financial Impacts of COVID-19 on Wisconsin Municipalities | Click here

MAY 14, 2020

Wisconsin ACT 185 – Impact on School Districts | COVID-19 Challenges | Click here

APRIL 30, 2020

Wisconsin K-12 Panel: COVID-19 Challenges | Click here

For general COVID-19 updates, click here.