WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve has largely calmed turbulent financial markets. Yet a far tougher task remains: Helping rescue an economy and job market that appear to be free-falling into the worst catastrophe since the Great Depression.
Fed policymakers will meet Tuesday and Wednesday against a backdrop of dismal data: More than 26 million Americans have applied for unemployment benefits since the coronavirus forced widespread business closures.
Retail sales have dropped by a record pace. Home sales have plunged. In the meantime, inflation has started to fall amid the collapse in economic activity and is sure to sink further below the Fed's 2% target level.