Joseph LaVorgna Quotations

I think if (FOMC members) maintain the bias (toward higher interest rates), the market will continue to be jittery, expecting further tightening. Of course, the wording of the announcement will also be important.

I think it's probably them worried more just about a very weak economy than whether it's a soft landing or a recession. But the Fed, they don't really care. They just want to see the economy get back up.

Treasuries are going to seek higher yields over the next weeks. The labor market looks quite healthy.

We aren't overly concerned by this slowdown. It's hard to see consumer spending not bouncing back in the first quarter.

While consumers are forking over a lot of money on gasoline, they continue to spend elsewhere, ... This tells us that job and income prospects are better than what is commonly understood.

The financial wealth that has been created is unprecedented. Even if the stock market, for argument's sake, leveled off here, there's been so much wealth built up that we really can feel spending for some time.

What I think this means is that the Fed waited maybe for the stock market to go up a little and then cut rates and effectively reinforced the price action. Therefore it set a bottom on stocks, but it's definitely a very good move I think for the Fed.

The factory sector continues to grow at a fast rate, probably further absorbing existing capacity. We look for healthy increases in both industrial production and factory usage.

We do not think the chairman will break new ground.

People are telling you they are still somewhat optimistic about the future, but the current environment is lousy.

The Fed is toward the end of its rate hikes. Equities and bonds got a bid because the Fed talked about maybe finishing its tightening.

The retail sales figures were really soft, much softer than expected.

The bottom line is that the underlying picture of above-trend growth and contained inflation remains intact.

The economy could get back to an above trend rate this quarter, and that is what will matter to monetary policy makers.

The economy is doing fine and the labor market is on the mend.

Already in December, the vehicle sales data seemed to be regaining traction.

It's just adding to the notion that the Fed is on the cusp of an imminent and extended pause. It's proving what everybody was thinking -- the I-told-you-so crowd -- that oil is going to weaken things.