Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams said Thursday that he sees lower risks to inflation as tariffs have driven up price pressures less than expected. "I see on the margin...a reduction of some of the upside risks to inflation" from tariffs, Williams told reporters after speaking at the Economic Club of New York. He noted this reduction comes alongside greater clarity about future economic policy. Williams acknowledged that President Donald Trump's import tax increases are "definitely" affecting price pressures, but added that in terms of tariff pass-throughs to higher...
Markets are kicking around the idea of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September, but Morgan Stanley isn't sure, warning that the odds may be closer to 50-50 despite widespread expectations. Strong economic indicators including solid GDP growth, healthy financial conditions, and low volatility stand in the way of a clear case for easing, the bank said in a recent report. Nominal GDP growth remains robust at over 5%, unemployment holds steady at 4.2%, and retail sales continue surpassing expectations, reflecting an economy far from needing stimulus, Morgan Stanley's economists said. "It cannot...
New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams indicated on Wednesday that interest rates could decrease at some point, but emphasized that upcoming economic data will determine if a rate cut is appropriate at the September 16-17 meeting. "Every meeting is, from my perspective, live" for a change in the benchmark policy rate, Williams stated during a CNBC interview. He added that "risks are more in balance. We are going to just have to see how the data play out." Before the next Federal Reserve meeting, policymakers will receive fresh jobs data and new consumer price inflation...
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook will file a lawsuit to prevent President Donald Trump from firing her, a lawyer for the embattled central bank official said on Tuesday, kicking off what could be a protracted legal fight over the White House's effort to shape U.S. monetary policy. "His attempt to fire her, based solely on a referral letter, lacks any factual or legal basis. We will be filing a lawsuit challenging this illegal action," Cook's lawyer, prominent Washington attorney Abbe Lowell, said in a statement. The statement was issued a day after Trump said he would fire Cook, the...
Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan mused about making key policy adjustments at the Fed on Monday, stressing the need for more effective policy communication.The US has more room to reduce reserves.Responding to banks' increased short-run demand for reserves is a recipe for an ever-expanding central bank balance sheet.As reserve levels drop, preferable for the Fed to seek to meet lower long-run bank demand for reserves rather than the higher short-run demand.Fed balance sheet should hold primarily treasuries in the long run.I was encouraged to see the use of the...
The US economy is slowing, according to a monthly index released Monday, increasing the likelihood that policymakers will cut interest rates next month. The Chicago Fed's National Activity Index fell slightly to minus 0.19 in July from a downwardly revised minus 0.18 in June. A reading below zero indicates slower growth than the long-term average. Employment indicators remained negative on the index, a fresh sign of fragility in the US labor market. This weakness is one of the main reasons for a rate cut at the Fed's policy meeting next month. Central bank Chairman Jerome Powell last week...
President Donald Trump said he would fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors if she does not resign her post over mortgage-fraud accusations from a top...
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained its cash rate at 4.1% during its April meeting, holding borrowing costs unchanged after slashing 25 bps in the February meeting, aligning with market...