1. A) Suppose that several months of data showed the CPI increasing at a 4 % annual rate due largely to increases in the price of energy and food related commodities following several years when the CPI only increased by 2.2 % per year. Suppose this increase causes investor expectations of annual inflation to also increase from 2.2% to 4%. Assume, at the same time that fears of higher inflation create concerns that rising interest rates will derail the economic recovery and lead to another recession. Assume the resulting increase in risk aversion among investors drives the expected real rate of return required to equate investor demand to the existing supply of 1 year Treasury notes down to 0.2 % from .6%. What would you expect to happen to the nominal yields on 1-year T-notes during the period over which these changes in inflation expectations and required real yields occurred? (Give a numerical answer if possible)
B) Draw a supply/demand diagram of the US Treasury bond market to illustrate the effects on it of the developments cited in part A. (Note: you do not have to include the exact numerical price before and after the change in expectations.) Label your diagram clearly! 4pts.
2. Between Q1, 2014 and Q1, 2015 measured Output in the non- farm business sector increased by 3.2%. During this time period the unemployment rate fell from 6.6% to 5.5% and total hours worked in the nonfarm business sector increased by 2.8%.
What was the % rate of change in labor productivity over the year? Explain your answer briefly.