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Deficit Surge Will Lead To Lower Rates, Not Higher

Despite concerns over rising deficits and debt, central banks globally have been buying government debt to combat deflationary forces, which has kept interest rates low and prevented a rise in rates as deficits increase; therefore, the assumption that interest rates must go higher may be incorrect.

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The majority of economists polled by Reuters predict that the U.S. Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates again, and they expect the central bank to wait until at least the end of March before cutting them, as the probability of a recession within a year falls to its lowest level since September 2022.
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker does not believe that the U.S. central bank will need to increase interest rates again and suggests holding steady to see how the economy responds, stating that the current restrictive stance should bring inflation down.
China's economy is at risk of entering a debt-deflation loop, similar to Japan's in the 1990s, but this can be avoided if policymakers keep interest rates below a crucial level to stimulate economic growth.
The recent increase in the average interest rate for refinancing has been influenced by the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes and the effects of inflation.
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia believes that the US central bank has already raised interest rates enough to bring inflation down to pre-pandemic levels of around 2%.
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, stated that interest rates in the European Union will need to remain high for as long as necessary to combat persistent inflation, despite progress made, at an annual conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
A research paper presented at the Kansas City Federal Reserve's annual central banking symposium concludes that the steep increase in public debt over the past 15 years due to the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic is likely irreversible, with governments now needing to live with high debt burdens and implement measures such as spending limits and tax hikes.
The European Central Bank (ECB) will maintain high interest rates for as long as necessary to combat persistent inflation, according to ECB President Christine Lagarde, amid efforts to manage a stagnating economy; however, the ECB is also considering longer-term economic changes that may contribute to sustained inflation pressures.
U.S. economic growth, outpacing other countries, may pose global risks if the Federal Reserve is forced to raise interest rates higher than expected, potentially leading to financial tightening and ripple effects in emerging markets.
Central bankers are uncertain if they have raised interest rates enough, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of their monetary policies.
The Bank of England may have to increase interest rates if the US Federal Reserve decides to raise rates to cut inflation, in order to prevent the pound from weakening and inflation from rising further.
Central banks are likely to push western economies into a recession in order to tackle inflation, according to a member of Jeremy Hunt's advisory council. Karen Ward, an economist at JP Morgan Asset Management, believes signs of weakness will be needed before policymakers can ease their tough approach, as the message from a recent gathering of central bankers in Wyoming was that borrowing costs would need to be higher for longer than expected. Ward's comments come as Germany reports its highest wage growth figure since 2008.
The US economy may face disruption as debts are refinanced at higher interest rates, which could put pressure on both financial institutions and the government, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic.
The Canadian government is facing higher debt servicing costs as interest rates rise, resulting in billions of additional dollars spent on interest payments and less money available for other government priorities, potentially leading to difficult decisions about cutting spending or increasing taxes.
Emerging-market central banks are resisting expectations of interest rate cuts, which is lowering the outlook for developing-nation bonds, as central banks in Asia and Latin America turn hawkish in response to the "higher-for-longer" stance taken by the Federal Reserve, currency pressures, and the threat of inflation.
The U.S. is currently experiencing a prolonged high inflation cycle that is causing significant damage to the purchasing power of the currency, and the recent lower inflation rate is misleading as it ignores the accumulated harm; in order to combat this cycle, the Federal Reserve needs to raise interest rates higher than the inflation rate and reverse its bond purchases.
The Federal Reserve is considering whether to raise interest rates even higher to combat inflation, but some policymakers, like Raphael Bostic, believe it is unnecessary and advocate for keeping the rates at their current level until 2024.
Central banks across major developed and emerging economies took a breather in August with lower interest rate hikes amid diverging growth outlooks and inflation risks, while some countries like Brazil and China cut rates, and others including Turkey and Russia raised rates to combat currency weakness and high inflation.
Wall Street banks are revising their outlooks for Turkish interest rates as inflation rises faster than expected, with JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America suggesting that borrowing costs may need to rise higher or quicker in response to the surge in price growth.
The European Central Bank is expected to maintain interest rates on September 14, although nearly half of economists anticipate one more increase this year in an effort to reduce inflation.
The Wall Street Journal reports a notable shift in the stance of Federal Reserve officials regarding interest rates, with some officials now seeing risks as more balanced due to easing inflation and a less overheated labor market, which could impact the timing of future rate hikes. In other news, consumer credit growth slows in July, China and Japan reduce holdings of U.S. Treasury securities to record lows, and Russia's annual inflation rate reached 5.2% in August 2023.
Investors are growing increasingly concerned about the ballooning U.S. federal deficit and its potential impact on the bond market's ability to finance the shortfall at current interest rates, according to Yardeni Research.
Pakistan's central bank is expected to raise interest rates to address inflation and bolster foreign exchange reserves, following a series of rate hikes earlier this year in response to economic and political crises.
Popular analyst Arthur Hayes argues that traditional economic theories about Bitcoin's relationship with interest rates will fail due to the US government's substantial debt, as inflation may become "sticky" and bond yields may not keep up with GDP growth, leading bondholders to seek higher yielding "risk assets" like Bitcoin.
The European Central Bank is facing a dilemma on whether to raise its key interest rate to combat inflation or hold off due to economic deterioration, with investors split on the likelihood of a rate hike.
The European Central Bank has implemented its 10th consecutive interest rate increase in an attempt to combat high inflation, although there are concerns that higher borrowing costs could lead to a recession; however, the increase may have a negative impact on consumer and business spending, particularly in the real estate market.
Economist Campbell Harvey warns that the Federal Reserve should not raise rates later this year, as he believes a recession may occur in 2024 due to an inverted yield curve and potential distortions in Bureau of Labor Statistics and GDP figures.
Leading market experts are raising concerns about the growing US debt, warning that it will lead to higher interest rates and potential economic repercussions as federal deficits increase and US debt supply continues to grow.
New research suggests that elevated interest rates may not have been the main cause of the decline in inflation, sparking a debate about whether the Federal Reserve needs to raise rates again.
Central banks' efforts to combat inflation by raising interest rates have not led to mass job losses, as labor markets in various countries have cooperated by reducing open vacancies and trimming wage growth, suggesting a possible "soft landing" for the economy without significant casualties.
Rising interest rates caused by the steepest monetary tightening campaign in a generation are causing financial distress for borrowers worldwide, threatening the survival of businesses and forcing individuals to consider selling assets or cut back on expenses.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates steady and signal that it is done raising rates for this economic cycle, as the bond market indicates that inflation trends are moving in the right direction.
The Federal Reserve has revised its interest rate forecast, planning for fewer rate cuts next year than previously anticipated, which may not be favorable for borrowers.
Central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of England, have pledged to maintain higher interest rates for an extended period to combat inflation and achieve global economic stability, despite concerns about the strength of the Chinese economy and geopolitical tensions.
Central banks around the world may have reached the peak of interest rate hikes in their effort to control inflation, as data suggests that major economies have turned a corner on price rises and core inflation is declining in the US, UK, and EU. However, central banks remain cautious and warn that rates may need to remain high for a longer duration, and that oil price rallies could lead to another spike in inflation. Overall, economists believe that the global monetary policy tightening cycle is nearing its end, with many central banks expected to cut interest rates in the coming year.
The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates steady, but economists are skeptical that a soft landing for the economy is guaranteed due to high inflation and continued economic growth.
The Federal Reserve is paying attention to "real" interest rates, which measures rates adjusted for inflation, and is using this to inform its decisions regarding future rate hikes and inflation.
The Federal Reserve's measure of inflation is disconnected from market conditions, increasing the likelihood of a recession, according to Duke University finance professor Campbell Harvey. If the central bank continues to raise interest rates based on this flawed inflation gauge, the severity of the economic downturn could worsen.
Two former Federal Reserve policymakers disagree on whether the central bank should raise interest rates, with one saying rates have likely peaked and the other saying they need to be raised further, but both agree that achieving a soft landing for the economy is unlikely.