New rating, AA+, is still considered well into investment grade
Data suggests the labour market is slowly normalizing from post-pandemic extremes
Weakening inflation suggests the Fed may be able to achieve a difficult ``soft landing'' for the economy
Here's how certain trends may play out
A key question is whether Wednesday's increase will be the Fed's last
Economists have been downgrading their probabilities of a U.S. recession
Inflation rate falls to an annualized rate of 3% in June with easing prices for gasoline, airline fares, used cars and groceries
The latest evidence of economic strength makes it all but certain that the Fed will resume rate hikes
Many economists described the message from the June meeting as a blurry one
Despite rate increases, Fed chairman says rates "haven't been restrictive very long"