This week: Federal Reserve meeting, Boeing earnings, Labor Department issues July jobs report

FED MEETS

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve wraps ups its two-day policy meeting.

Few expect the U.S. central bank to lower interest rates this time around, with most experts forecasting a cut in September. The Fed began ratcheting up rates in March of 2022 in the midst of the four-decade high inflation that took root as the economy rebounded from the brief but sharp pandemic recession. Data suggest that inflation has receded in recent months and is closing in on the Fed's 2% target.

BOEING BLUES

Embattled jet maker Boeing reports its second-quarter earnings Wednesday.

Virginia-based Boeing has been mired in investigations and lawsuits since two of its Max 747s crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. Last week, the Justice Department submitted a detailed plea agreement with Boeing in which the aerospace giant will plead guilty to a fraud charge for misleading U.S. regulators who approved the 737 Max jetliner before the crashes.

EYE ON JOBS

The government serves up its July jobs report on Friday.

America’s employers delivered another healthy month of hiring in June, highlighting the economy’s ability to withstand high interest rates. Last month’s job growth marked a pullback from May and analysts expect another dip in hiring in July. The Federal Reserve is paying close attention to the cooling labor market as it gathers data relevant to its interest rate policy decisions.

Nonfarm payrolls, monthly change, seasonally adjusted:

Feb.: 236,000

March: 310,000

April: 108,000

May: 218,000

June: 206,000

July (est.): 180,000

Source: FactSet