US economy under spotlight at muster

Flashes of illumination rather than fireworks are expected at this week’s annual meeting of top central bankers and economists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Few predict anything so momentous as the speech by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke two years ago that paved the way for an unprecedented $85 billion per month stimulus plan.

But policymakers will discuss at length their thinking around the labour markets of major economies at the August 21-23 meeting, perhaps dropping clues about the path for monetary policy in the months ahead.