A Strong Durable Goods Orders Report Increases The Likelihood That The Fed Will Raises Rates In March

Most economists are predicting that The Fed will raise their Fed Funds Target Rate when the FOMC meets next week, but there is still some uncertainty about what The FOMC will do when they meet at the end of March.

According to today's Durable Goods Orders (DGO) report (released by The Commerce Department) for December, 2005, DGO increased by 1.3%, an increase that may convince The Fed that the economy needs some cooling-off, which may translate to another 25 basis point increase to The Fed Funds Rate on March 28, 2006.