YELLEN’S CHALLENGE: Fed Chair appearances—especially those this early in a central bank leader’s tenure—are always closely watched in financial markets. But this week’s promises to be especially riveting given the vexing nature of the current economy and the trick ahead for the central bank in deciding on and communicating its current plans to further draw down stimulus this year and eventually begin raising rates sometime next year. Last week’s run of economic data did not make Janet Yellen’s job much easier. Read more
GAS PRICE OUTLOOK: Oil is plentiful and demand for gasoline continues to trend lower as American drivers move to more efficient cars and trucks. So why haven’t pump prices come down? Refiners are finding strong demand for gasoline exports – mostly to Latin American countries where refining capacity hasn’t kept up with demand. But while drivers are paying more at the pump than they have in more than a year, prices are expected to level off and begin in falling in many parts of the country as the summer driving season gets underway. Read more
MOST AMERICANS NOT PANICKED BY HEARTBLEED BUG: A recent survey by Pew Research shows that most Americans did not have strong reactions to the Heartbleed bug–if they heard about it at all. Read more
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