Did you know the Federal Reserve is a privately held company?

Look it up in your local phone book. You will NOT find them in the Government section as one might think, however, you will find them in the business section. In fact, the Federal Reserve is as much a government entity as is Federal Express.

So where does our money come from? Where does it go? Who makes it? The money magician’s secrets are unveiled. Here is a close look at their mirrors and smoke machines, the pulleys, cogs, and wheels that create the grand illusion called money and the Federal Reserve.

A boring subject? Just wait. You’ll be hooked in five minutes. It sounds like a detective story, which it really is, but it’s all true. Based on Mr. Griffin’s book of the same title, this address will shatter your old ideas about money and change the way you view the world.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. home prices fell in the second quarter of 2008 according to OFHEO’s seasonally-adjusted purchase-only house price index. The index, which is based on data from home sales, was 1.4 percent lower on a seasonally-adjusted basis in the second quarter than in the first quarter. This decline was less steep than the 1.7 percent decline in the prior quarter. Over the past year, prices fell 4.8 percent between the second quarter of 2007 and the second quarter of 2008. The decline is the largest in the purchase-only index’s 17-year history, but is much smaller than those of other indexes.

OFHEO’s all-transactions House Price Index (HPI) fell 1.4 percent in the latest quarter and was down 1.7 percent over the four-quarter period.

The figures were released today by OFHEO Director James B. Lockhart, as part of the quarterly report analyzing housing price appreciation trends.

“Tighter credit conditions and relatively high inventory levels led to some sharp price declines in the second quarter,” said Lockhart. “However, the majority of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) posted positive four-quarter growth.”

The monthly index, which is a purchase-only measure of price changes, was flat between May and June on a seasonally-adjusted basis, but was down 5.0 percent since the April 2007 peak. In June, seasonally-adjusted prices in thePacific Census Division were 17.6 percent off their early 2007 peak, making it the worst performing Division. By contrast, June prices in the West South Central Division reached a new high.

While the national purchase-only house price index fell 4.8 percent between the second quarters of 2007 and 2008, prices of other goods and services increased 5.3 percent. Accordingly, the inflation-adjusted price of homes fell approximately 10.1 percent over the latest year.

“The most overbuilt areas of the country–including California, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida–contrast greatly with most other states, where prices are declining more moderately or even increasing,” said OFHEO Chief Economist Patrick Lawler. “Nationally, the substantial declines in the weakest markets have driven seasonally adjusted prices down to late-2005 levels.”

Read the entire report here

The preferred stock ratings of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have been downgraded from A1 to BAA3 by Moody’s Investors Service. Additionally, Fannie and Freddie’s Bank Financial Strength Ratings has been downgraded from B minus to D plus.

The downgraded ratings remain on review for possible further downgrade. Moody’s said the downgrades of the financial strength ratings reflect its view that the government sponsored enterprise’s flexibility to manage volatility in their mortgage risk exposures is “constricted” because they now have “limited access to common and preferred equity capital at economically attractive terms.”

The downgrades of the preferred stock ratings reflect a greater risk of dividend omission stemming from two issues.

First, the Government Sponsored Enterprises mortgage portfolio performance is “worse and more volatile than Moody’s expected”, which could lead them to breach the capital requirements governing their ability to pay a preferred dividend. Second, there is uncertainty about how the preferred stock would be treated if the Treasury provides either GSE with support, Moody’s said.

Moody’s also affirmed the GSE’s AAA senior long term debt and Prime-1 short term debt ratings with stable outlooks, while their AA2 subordinated debt ratings were affirmed, but the outlook was changed from stable to negative.

The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to keep its target for the federal funds rate at 2 percent.

Economic activity expanded in the second quarter, partly reflecting growth in consumer spending and exports. However, labor markets have softened further and financial markets remain under considerable stress. Tight credit conditions, the ongoing housing contraction, and elevated energy prices are likely to weigh on economic growth over the next few quarters. Over time, the substantial easing of monetary policy, combined with ongoing measures to foster market liquidity, should help to promote moderate economic growth.

Inflation has been high, spurred by the earlier increases in the prices of energy and some other commodities, and some indicators of inflation expectations have been elevated. The Committee expects inflation to moderate later this year and next year, but the inflation outlook remains highly uncertain.

Although downside risks to growth remain, the upside risks to inflation are also of significant concern to the Committee. The Committee will continue to monitor economic and financial developments and will act as needed to promote sustainable economic growth and price stability.

Voting for the FOMC monetary policy action were: Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman; Timothy F. Geithner, Vice Chairman; Elizabeth A. Duke; Donald L. Kohn; Randall S. Kroszner; Frederic S. Mishkin; Sandra Pianalto; Charles I. Plosser; Gary H. Stern; and Kevin M. Warsh. Voting against was Richard W. Fisher, who preferred an increase in the target for the federal funds rate at this meeting.