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Home > News & Events > Conferences & Events > FDIC 2005 Economic Outlook The U.S. Consumer: Hero or Has-Been?




FDIC 2005 Economic Outlook
The U.S. Consumer: Hero or Has-Been?


Friday, November 19, 2004
FDIC Board Room
550 17 th Street, N.W.
Washington , D.C. 20429

The U.S. consumer has played a unique role in the economy over the last three years. Consumer spending was uncharacteristically robust during and just after the 2001 recession, as low interest rates, soaring home values, and tax cuts allowed households to keep borrowing and buying at a rapid pace. Consumer spending has continued to support the U.S. economic recovery despite the somewhat sluggish recovery in the labor market and relatively slow income growth. During 2004, we've seen rising interest rates and inflation, with energy prices hitting record highs, even as the marginal stimulus of the 2003 tax cut begins to wane. Some are now starting to question whether the consumer will still be able to serve as the economy's primary engine of growth in 2005, a question that forms the basis for our roundtable agenda. The answers will help clarify the future paths of household finances, consumer credit quality and the U.S. economic outlook for the year ahead.

Roundtable Summary
Roundtable Transcript

9:30 am - 10:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast

10:00 am - 10:10 am

Introductions
Richard A. Brown, Chief Economist, and Associate Director, Risk Analysis Branch , Division of Insurance and Research
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

10:10 am - 11:25 am Panel Presentations
 


What's Ahead for Consumers?
Carl E. Steidtmann, Chief Economist and Director
Consumer Business Industry Group, Deloitte Research

 


Consumer Confidence
Allen C. Grommet, Senior Economist,
Cambridge Consumer Credit Index

 

The Consumer and Taxes
Leonard E. Burman, Senior Fellow, the Urban Institute, and Co-Director, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center

11:25 am - 12 :00 noon Question and Answer Session

12:15 pm - 1 : 45 pm

Luncheon and Speaker
Donna J. Gambrell, Deputy Director for Compliance and Consumer Protection, Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

 



Last Updated 12/22/2004 communications@fdic.gov

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