Fed chair warns US inflation battle not over and hints at further rate rises
Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell warns that the fight against inflation in the US is not over and that interest rates may have to rise further to bring it down.
Posted 8/25/2023, 6:47:00 PM
theguardian.com
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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will likely provide updates on the central bank's stance on interest rates in the US during the Jackson Hole meeting, although an announcement regarding the end of interest rate hikes is less likely due to positive economic data and the potential risk of triggering another crisis.
Investors are expecting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to take a hawkish tone on interest rate policy in his upcoming speech, as the US economy continues to perform well and inflation remains elevated.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell aims to bring inflation back down to its 2 percent target while avoiding causing a recession, as he addresses the uncertain economic outlook at the annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Two Federal Reserve officials suggest that interest-rate increases may be coming to an end, but one of them believes that further hikes may still be necessary depending on inflation trends.
The Jackson Hole monetary policy conference, featuring a speech from Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, suggests that the era of low inflation may be over due to factors such as supply-chain failures, fiscal boosts, deglobalization, and onshoring. The potential for Powell to discuss inflationary risks and rate hikes could negatively impact the S&P 500.
Two officials at the Federal Reserve have expressed differing views on whether or not the central bank should raise its benchmark interest rate again to combat inflation, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding future rate hikes, with more clarity expected from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming speech at a Fed conference in Jackson Hole.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to signal in his upcoming speech that the Fed plans to maintain its benchmark interest rate at a peak level for a longer period than anticipated, suggesting that any rate cuts are unlikely until well into next year, as the central bank aims to further slow borrowing and spending to reduce inflation.
As Jerome Powell, the chair of the U.S Federal Reserve, prepares to speak at the Jackson Hole symposium, the big question is whether he will signal a major shift in how central banks deal with inflation, particularly regarding interest rates and inflation targets. Some economists are suggesting moving the inflation target range from 2-3 percent, while others argue for higher targets to give central banks more flexibility in combating recession. The debate highlights the challenges of setting and changing formal inflation targets and the ongoing changes in the factors that drive growth and inflation.
Stocks fluctuated as Jerome Powell signaled caution on declaring victory over inflation and stated that the Federal Reserve will proceed carefully on whether to raise interest rates again.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated that restrictive monetary policy will continue until inflation slows, and the central bank is prepared to raise rates cautiously; the price of Bitcoin briefly dipped before recovering, while traditional markets saw modest gains.
Traders interpret Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech as an indication that the Fed will continue to raise interest rates and that the US economy remains strong.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell addressed the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium and discussed the potential risks of raising interest rates too high in order to combat inflation, stating that there could be "unfortunate costs" if the Fed's actions are excessive.
Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester believes that beating inflation will require one more interest-rate hike and then a temporary pause, stating that rate cuts may not begin in late 2024 as previously thought.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled at a conference of central bankers that more rate hikes could be on the way as the economy continues to run hot, despite a series of policy tightening measures, in an effort to combat persistent inflation.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that inflation and economic growth remain too high and interest rates may continue to rise and remain restrictive for longer, while U.S. stocks rebounded and European markets closed slightly higher. Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai highlighted China's dominance in rare earth metals and the vulnerability of U.S. supply chains. Grocery delivery company Instacart filed paperwork for an IPO, and upcoming PCE and jobs data will provide insights into the Fed's rate decisions. Powell's ambiguous remarks at the Jackson Hole symposium led markets to focus on the prospect of a stronger economy rather than interest rate warnings.
Asia-Pacific markets started the final trading week of August higher after U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said that inflation remains "too high" and that the central bank is "prepared to raise rates further if appropriate."
Investors have been building up bets on the Federal Reserve announcing an end to its rate hikes, but the central bank's preferred inflation data and Chair Jerome Powell's comments suggest that the cycle may not be over yet.
Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Raphael Bostic argues against further U.S. interest rate hikes, stating that current monetary policy is already tight enough to bring inflation back down to 2% over a reasonable period and cautioning against the risk of tightening too much.
Traders believe that the US Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates further this year, as the latest jobs report showed an increase in unemployment and a cooling wage growth, prompting the Fed to potentially halt rate hikes and keep policy on hold.
BlackRock's Rick Rieder suggests that the Federal Reserve can now end its inflation fight as the labor market in the US is cooling down after gaining 26 million jobs in the past three years.
The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge increased slightly in July, suggesting that the fight against inflation may be challenging, but the absence of worse news indicates that officials are likely to maintain interest rates.
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.
The Federal Reserve faces the challenge of bringing down inflation to its target of 2 percent, with differing opinions on whether they will continue to raise interest rates or pause due to weakening economic indicators such as drops in mortgage rates and auto sales.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell faces the challenge of managing market expectations of interest rate hikes and addressing rising energy costs leading to inflation, while also leaving room for rate cuts if necessary.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its benchmark lending rate steady as it waits for more data on the US economy, and new economic projections suggest stronger growth and lower unemployment; however, inflation remains a concern, leaving the possibility open for another rate increase in the future.
The Federal Reserve will continue raising interest rates until inflation decreases, even if it means more people losing their jobs, according to CNBC's Jim Cramer.
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.
Federal Reserve policymakers Governor Michelle Bowman and Boston Fed President Susan Collins expressed the need to keep interest rates elevated to combat inflation, with Bowman suggesting further rate hikes will likely be needed to bring inflation down to the Fed's 2% target and Collins stating that further tightening is not off the table as progress in battling inflation has been slow.