The Federal Reserve must consider the possibility of a reacceleration of the economy, potentially impacting its inflation fight, as retail sales in July were stronger than expected and consumer confidence is rising, according to Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin.
The Federal Reserve aims for a "soft landing" in guiding the US economy by raising interest rates to control inflation while avoiding a recession, with signs of stabilization appearing in Jackson Hole's economy as supply chains normalize and pricing pressures ease.
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.
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.
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.
Two Federal Reserve officials, Boston Fed President Susan Collins and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker, suggested that the Fed may be nearing the end of interest rate increases, although Collins did not rule out the possibility of further hikes if inflation doesn't decline.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that the fight against inflation still has a long way to go, emphasizing the need for extended periods of elevated interest rates to restore price stability. Powell stated that although inflation has cooled, the improvement may be temporary, and the Fed is committed to lowering inflation to their 2% target.
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%.
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.
The Federal Reserve is losing its power to influence the US economy, according to Wall Street economist Richard Koo, potentially requiring higher interest rates to drive inflation down and leading to a selloff in stocks and bonds.
The former president of the Boston Fed suggests that the Federal Reserve can stop raising interest rates if the labor market and economic growth continue to slow at the current pace.
The August jobs report indicates a cooling job market with a slight increase in unemployment driven by rising labor force participation, suggesting the Federal Reserve should hold off on further interest rate increases.
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.
The Federal Reserve's attempt to combat inflation is not making any progress, as shown by the latest jobs report and inflation data, indicating that inflation is likely to worsen.
US inflation remains too high despite recent improvements, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester, who also states that the labor market is still strong.
The US job market is cooling down, with signs of weakening and a slowdown in momentum, which may allow the Federal Reserve to ease inflation pressure through weaker job creation and reduced demand.
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.
The risk of inflation becoming entrenched is one of the biggest challenges facing the Federal Reserve, according to LPL Financial's Jeffrey Roach.
Inflation has decreased significantly in recent months, but the role of the Federal Reserve in this decline is questionable as there is little evidence to suggest that higher interest rates led to lower prices and curtailed demand or employment. Other factors such as falling energy prices and the healing of disrupted supply chains appear to have had a larger impact on slowing inflation.
The United States Federal Reserve's financial woes and potential implications for cryptocurrency are discussed on the latest episode of "Macro Markets," highlighting challenges posed by inflation and the consequences of loose monetary policies during the pandemic.
The war on inflation is almost over, as higher supply rather than lower demand has driven disinflation, creating a "Goldilocks" scenario in which inflation cools without a recession, according to economist Paul Krugman and a new report.
The Federal Reserve faces a critical decision at the end of the year that could determine whether the US economy suffers or inflation exceeds target levels, according to economist Mohamed El-Erian. He suggests the central bank must choose between tolerating inflation at 3% or higher, or risking a downturn in the economy.
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.
The Federal Reserve's restrictive monetary policy, along with declining consumer savings, tightening lending standards, and increasing loan delinquencies, indicate that the economy is transitioning toward a recession, with the effectiveness of monetary policy being felt with a lag time of 11-12 months. Additionally, the end of the student debt repayment moratorium and a potential government shutdown may further negatively impact the economy. Despite this, the Fed continues to push a "higher for longer" theme regarding interest rates, despite inflation already being defeated.
The upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve meeting is generating less attention than usual, indicating that the Fed's job of pursuing maximum employment and price stability is seen as successful, with labor market data and inflation trends supporting this view.
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 is leaving its key interest rate unchanged as it moderates its fight against inflation, but plans to raise rates once more this year, as policymakers remain concerned about inflation not falling fast enough.
The Federal Reserve officials signal that they believe they can control inflation without causing a recession, with forecasts of higher economic growth and unchanged inflation outlook.
The U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady but left room for potential rate hikes, as they see progress in fighting inflation and aim to bring it down to the target level of 2 percent; however, officials projected a higher growth rate of 2.1 percent for this year and suggested that core inflation will hit 3.7 percent this year before falling in 2024 and reaching the target range by 2026.
The Federal Reserve has paused raising interest rates and projects that the US will not experience a recession until at least 2027, citing improvement in the economy and a "very smooth landing," though there are still potential risks such as surging oil prices, an auto worker strike, and the threat of a government shutdown.
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.
BlackRock's Rick Rieder predicts that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next year due to a slowing economy, following the Fed's recent pause on rate hikes.
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.
Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital, believes that the Federal Reserve's goal of 2% inflation is unlikely to be achieved in the near future due to factors such as ongoing worker's strikes and the rising national debt, and he predicts long-term rates will rise further as a result.
