美联储观望降息 特朗普着急换人

Core Points - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized a "wait-and-see" approach to interest rate policy during congressional hearings, which has drawn criticism from President Trump, who expressed a desire for Powell to resign and indicated he would only appoint those willing to lower rates [1][3] - Powell noted that the impact of tariffs on the economy remains uncertain, with potential inflationary pressures expected to manifest in the coming months, particularly in June, July, and August [3][4] - Recent data showed a rise in the core personal consumption expenditures price index, indicating inflationary trends, with a year-over-year increase of 2.7% in May, surpassing expectations [3][4] Interest Rate Outlook - Analysts suggest that weak consumer spending combined with moderate inflation may not be sufficient for the Fed to initiate rate cuts in July, with market expectations leaning towards a potential rate cut in September [4][5] - Current market probabilities indicate an 81.4% chance that the Fed will maintain rates in July, while the likelihood of a 25 basis point cut is at 18.6% [4] - Fed officials have indicated that if inflation remains controlled, they may support a rate cut in the upcoming policy meeting [4][6] Consumer Confidence and Spending - Consumer confidence has improved, with the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rising from 52.2 in May to 60.7 in June, marking the largest monthly increase in 2024 [5] - Despite the rise in confidence, consumer spending saw a significant decline in May, reflecting uncertainty regarding the Trump administration's economic policies, with inflation-adjusted personal consumption expenditures dropping by 0.3% [5][6] - The decline in spending was broad-based, indicating a weaker domestic demand and economic resilience than initially estimated [6] Potential Leadership Changes at the Fed - President Trump is reportedly considering announcing his next nominee for Fed Chair as early as September, which would break historical norms and could influence market expectations regarding future interest rate paths [6][7] - Potential candidates for the position include former Fed Governor Kevin Walsh and current National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, among others [7] - Analysts warn that such a non-traditional approach could raise concerns about the independence of the Fed and create uncertainty regarding future monetary policy [7]