Main Topic: U.S. inflation and the Federal Reserve's efforts to control it.
Key Points:
1. U.S. inflation has declined for 12 straight months, but consumer prices increased 3% year-on-year in June.
2. The Federal Reserve aims to reduce inflation to about 2% and plans to raise its key federal funds rate to over 5%.
3. The Fed is concerned about high inflation due to a strong labor market, rising wages, and increased consumer spending, and aims to slow the job market to control inflation.
Main Topic: The U.S. Federal Reserve's need to raise interest rates further to bring down inflation.
Key Points:
1. Governor Michelle Bowman supports the Fed's quarter-point increase in interest rates last month due to high inflation, strong consumer spending, a rebound in the housing market, and a tight labor market.
2. Bowman expects additional rate increases to reach the Fed's 2 percent inflation target.
3. Monetary policy is not predetermined, and future decisions will be data-driven. Bowman will consider consistent evidence of inflation decline, signs of slowing consumer spending, and loosening labor market conditions.
### Summary
The majority of economists believe that the U.S. Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates again and may even cut them by the end of March, due to positive economic indicators and low unemployment.
### Facts
- 90% of economists polled expect the Fed to keep interest rates in the 5.25-5.50% range at its September meeting.
- Roughly 80% of economists expect no further interest rate increases this year.
- The Fed's preferred measure of inflation is not expected to reach its 2% target until at least 2025.
- Confidence in the economy's ability to avoid a major downturn has led to expectations that interest rates will remain higher for a longer period, causing fluctuations in bond markets.
- 23 economists predict one more rate increase this year, while two expect two more increases to 5.75-6.00%.
- A majority of 95 economists expect rates to decrease at least once by mid-2024, but there is no agreement on the timing of the first cut.
- Nearly three-quarters of economists believe that shelter costs, a main driver of inflation, will decrease in the coming months.
- The real interest rate may be adjusted by the Fed based on inflation, which could prompt a rate reduction next year rather than a stimulus.
Source: [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/business/futures-touch-fifers-hopes-us-fed-rate-cut-rise-boosted-2019-08-23/)
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.
The market anticipates a 100 basis point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in 2024, with US 10-year yields falling and Fed funds futures indicating a lower path ahead of the Jackson Hole symposium, as US services PMI disappoints and US retailer Foot Locker warns on the consumer.
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.
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 considering raising interest rates again in order to reduce inflation to its targeted levels, as indicated by Fed Governor Michelle W. Bowman, who stated that additional rate increases will likely be needed; however, conflicting economic indicators, such as job growth and wage growth, may complicate the decision-making process.
Economists at the Chicago Fed argue that recent rate increases have brought inflation on a path to 2% without causing a recession, creating a "goldilocks" scenario for risk-taking in financial markets.
Federal Reserve policymakers are not eager to raise interest rates, but they are cautious about declaring victory as they monitor data such as inflation and job growth; most do not expect a rate hike at the upcoming policy-setting meeting.
The US economy is facing a looming recession, with weakness in certain sectors, but investors should not expect a significant number of interest-rate cuts next year, according to Liz Ann Sonders, the chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. She points out that leading indicators have severely deteriorated, indicating trouble ahead, and predicts a full-blown recession as the most likely outcome. Despite this, the stock market has been defying rate increases and performing well.
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.
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by about one percentage point next year as economic growth slows and unemployment rises, according to chief economists at major North American banks.
The stock market is currently stagnant and the key question is when the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates, as the market struggles when the Fed tightens monetary policy.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its upcoming meeting, but market participants will be closely watching for any hints regarding future rate cuts.
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.
Wall Street fears that the Federal Reserve will push out the timing for rate cuts next year, sparking concerns of a hawkish pause and increasing selling pressure, despite a trend of rapid disinflation and the potential for a higher neutral interest rate.
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.
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.
Markets on Wall Street are expected to open with losses after the Federal Reserve suggests it may not cut interest rates next year by as much as previously thought, leading to a decline in futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average; uncertainty surrounding inflationary indicators and high rates is a major concern for traders moving forward.
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 revision to its monetary policy, reducing future rate cuts and indicating a commitment to tackling inflation, caused shockwaves in the financial markets, leading to a decline in gold prices.
The Federal Reserve's interest-rate forecast is more hawkish than anticipated, with policymakers expecting to hold their key rate a half-percent higher through 2024 and cutting the federal funds rate by just one quarter-point over the next 15 months due to the economy's recent unexpected strength, despite doubts from Wall Street and rising Treasury yields.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman predicts that the Federal Reserve is likely done raising interest rates as the economy slows down, but warns of continuing spillover effects and expects bond yields to rise further.
The Federal Reserve's shift towards higher interest rates is causing significant turmoil in financial markets, with major averages falling and Treasury yields reaching their highest levels in 16 years, resulting in increased costs of capital for companies and potential challenges for banks and consumers.
The chaos in Washington and uncertainty surrounding a possible government shutdown could make it less likely for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again this year, as the economy and inflation appear to be cooling off.
The Federal Reserve may not raise interest rates again this year due to an already uncertain political climate in Washington, as well as a cooling economy, slowing inflation, and potential negative impacts from high interest rates and a government shutdown.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may cut interest rates in the second half of 2024, according to major bank economists, but the interest rate futures market does not anticipate any rate cuts until March 2025; historical data suggests that rate cut cycles following periods of high inflation have led to varying impacts on housing prices and unemployment, and it remains to be seen how the current economic conditions will affect these indicators.
The Federal Reserve is facing a tough decision on interest rates as some officials believe further rate increases are necessary to combat inflation, while others argue that the current rate tightening will continue to ease rising prices; however, the recent sell-off in government bonds could have a cooling effect on the economy, which may influence the Fed's decision.
Wall Street and policymakers at the Federal Reserve are optimistic that the rise in long-term Treasury yields could put an end to historic interest rate hikes meant to curb inflation, with financial markets now seeing a nearly 90% chance that the US central bank will keep rates unchanged at its next policy meeting on October 31 through November 1.
Investors are betting that the Federal Reserve may not raise interest rates again due to recent market moves that are expected to cool economic growth.
Markets are increasingly expecting a Fed pause in interest rate hikes, with the chance of a rate increase in November dropping to 15.8%, down from 23.1% a week ago and 38.4% a month ago, as volatile Treasury yields play a major role in shaping market expectations.
Some Federal Reserve officials are optimistic about finding a monetary policy that lowers inflation to their 2% target without causing high unemployment, but there are risks that could push the Fed onto a more familiar path of an economy struggling with rising borrowing costs and waning confidence.
The Federal Reserve will continue with its 'higher-for-longer' interest rate narrative unless there are signs of a slowdown in the consumer sector.
Interest rates are a major focus in financial markets as rising rates have far-reaching consequences, making future projections less valuable and hindering investments, and there is still uncertainty about the full impact of rate hikes on the economy, potentially delaying the start of a recession until mid-2024.
Federal Reserve officials are expected to pause on raising interest rates at their next meeting due to recent increases in bond yields, but they are not ruling out future rate increases as economic data continues to show a strong economy and potential inflation risks. The Fed is cautious about signaling an end to further tightening and is focused on balancing the risk of overshooting inflation targets with the need to avoid a recession. The recent surge in bond yields may provide some restraint on the economy, but policymakers are closely monitoring financial conditions and inflation expectations.
The Federal Reserve is expected to reach its 2% inflation target rate by early 2025 and is unlikely to raise interest rates in the near future, according to Mike Fratantoni, Chief Economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Fratantoni also predicts that the 10-year treasury rate will drop below 4% by the end of the year, leading to a decrease in mortgage rates over the next two years. The U.S. government's fiscal policy and debt limit impasse could continue to impact mortgage rates.
The Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates by the end of 2024, but the decline will be mild and likely to occur in the second half of the year, with the possibility of one more rate increase in 2023, according to policymakers and markets. The forecast for rate cuts is not as significant as the rate increases seen in previous years, with a projected decline of 1% in the Fed funds rate by the end of 2024. The Fed's own projections indicate short-term rates around 5% at the end of 2024, suggesting a slower trajectory for rate declines compared to market expectations. The Fed has scheduled eight meetings in 2024 to set the Fed funds rate, with the potential for rate cuts starting in June or later. The decision to lower rates may not happen until the summer of 2024, as the Fed has emphasized that it plans to cut rates gradually rather than making immediate cuts. The outlook for rates is based on the expectation that inflation will take more time to reach the Fed's target of 2% and that unemployment will increase slightly. The main risk to the rate outlook is a more severe recession in 2024, but the Fed's current focus is on addressing inflation. Recent data for 2023 has been positive, indicating that the economy may have avoided a recession. Overall, while interest rates are expected to decline in 2024, the decrease will be modest and delayed.
The markets have misunderstood recent statements from Fed officials, leading to the belief that higher interest rates have already done their job, when in fact the Fed may need to raise rates again if the strong US economy continues to drive rates higher.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged on November 1 and may delay rate cuts until the second half of next year, according to a Reuters poll of economists.
