(Bloomberg) — Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank will take “necessary steps” to reduce inflation even if it means raising interest rates more quickly than currently anticipated and eventually levels that slow down the economy in general.
Monetary policymakers raised the benchmark interest rate by a quarter point at their meeting last week, the first increase since December 2018, and signaled six more hikes of that magnitude this year, according to the median forecast. . The rate is forecast to reach 2.8% in 2023, beyond the so-called neutral rate of around 2.4%.
“If we conclude that it is appropriate to act more aggressively by raising the fed funds rate by more than 25 basis points in one or more meetings, we will do so,” Powell said Monday in prepared remarks for the National Association for Business. Economics. “And if we determine that we need to tighten monetary policy even beyond common neutrality measures and adopt a more restrictive stance, we will do that as well.”
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The Fed’s New Dot Plot
Powell, who reiterated and explained many of the key comments he made at his news conference last week, said the Russian invasion of Ukraine is compounding inflationary pressures by driving up prices for food, energy and other basic goods. at a time when inflation is already too high.”
He said that central banks typically look through event-driven commodity price shocks. But this time it won’t necessarily be typical.
“The risk is rising that a prolonged period of high inflation might drive long-term expectations uncomfortably higher, underscoring the need for the Federal Open Market Committee to act quickly, as I have described,” he added.
Inflation risk
The comments suggest that Powell sees even higher inflation as a greater risk to the economy than any short-term slowdown resulting from consumption due to fuel costs and growing uncertainty.
Powell described the economy as “very strong” and well positioned to handle higher interest rates. Fed officials last week forecast economic growth of 2.8% this year, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put a new risk on their outlook.
Discussions over when and how quickly to start liquidating its $8.9 trillion balance sheet are still ongoing, monetary policymakers say, but a decision is expected soon. On that subject, Powell reiterated a comment from last week’s news conference, saying action to reduce the balance “might come as early as our next meeting in May, although that’s not a decision we’ve made.”
The Fed chairman said policymakers are now no longer taking significant easing of supply chain problems for granted and will look to “real progress” on inflation to guide interest rate decisions.
Despite the aggressive tone of Powell’s comments, he said he remains optimistic regarding the economy soft landing at a sustainable growth rate.
original note:
Powell Says Fed ready to Raise Rates Faster if Need (Correct)
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