Experts are divided on whether the US Federal Reserve should raise its interest rate target to 3% to combat inflation and cushion against recessions, with some arguing that raising inflation targets would be futile.
The US Federal Reserve must consider the possibility of the economy reaccelerating rather than slowing, which could have implications for its inflation fight, according to Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin. He noted that retail sales were stronger than expected and consumer confidence is rising, potentially leading to higher inflation and a need for further tightening of monetary policy.
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.
Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins stated that the central bank may require additional interest rate hikes and will likely maintain elevated rates for an extended period, even if no further increases occur in the near future.
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.
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.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the Fed's inflation target will remain at 2% and that they are prepared to raise rates further if necessary, despite concerns of an economy that has re-accelerated above expectations.
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%.
President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, stated that interest rates in the European Union will need to remain high to combat inflation, despite progress being made, emphasizing the challenges posed by disruptions in the global and European economies.
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.
Former White House economist Kevin Hassett predicts that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again due to increasing inflation and energy prices.
The latest inflation data suggests that price increases are cooling down, increasing the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in their upcoming meeting.
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 is expected to hold interest rates steady this month, but inflation could still lead to additional rate increases.
UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned of a potential spike in inflation this month due to rising fuel prices, but states that the government is on track to halve inflation by the end of the year.
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller acknowledges that recent strong economic data will allow the central bank to proceed cautiously with potential interest rate hikes as it assesses whether inflation is under control.
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem suggests that interest rates may not be high enough to bring inflation back down to target, indicating a hawkish approach after keeping borrowing costs at a 22-year high; Macklem highlights the need for more restrictive monetary policy to restore price stability and reduce inflation.
Bond traders are anticipating that the Federal Reserve will continue with interest-rate hikes, and next week's consumer-price index report will provide further insight on how much more tightening may be required to control inflation.
Stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data, including a rise in producer prices and retail sales, has sparked concerns about sticky inflation and has reinforced the belief that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.
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.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to maintain a cautious approach and emphasize the Fed's resolve to target inflation and keep interest rates high for an extended period at next week's policy meeting, according to economists. The general consensus among economists is that the Fed will keep rates steady and suggest a possible rate hike later this year while closely monitoring inflation and the labor market.
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 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'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.
