This week, we’re looking at what the Federal Reserve is watching as it plots the course of interest rate hikes. In their most recent meeting, last month, minutes revealed that a majority of Fed members say one more rate hike would be appropriate. We’re two weeks away from the next Fed meeting, and investors are paying close attention as the decisions made will play a significant role on consumer spending and banks’ deposits. Mary Daly, the president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve, joins us with her take on where the economy stands, and what people are telling her about their personal economic outlooks. With stalled progress in slowing inflation revealed in September’s consumer-price index report, the road to two percent may take longer than investors would like. Plus, we’re looking ahead to earnings reports coming this week from Goldman Sachs, Netflix, and Johnson & Johnson. Michael Farr, CEO of investment advisory firm Farr, Miller, & Washington, tells us why those are the companies he’ll have his eye on this week and what their earnings reports can tell investors about how consumers are spending their money. Further Reading Fed Minutes Show Officials Divided on Future Rate Rise How Banks’ Deposit Pressures Could Get Worse, in Three Charts Why Consumers Are Mad About Inflation Even Though It Has Fallen This Inflation Report Won’t Let the Fed Declare Victory For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.