US Economic Perspectives：Fed & US outlook update

Investment Rating - The report indicates an expectation of three 25 basis point rate cuts in 2024, specifically in the September, November, and December FOMC meetings [2][16][47] Core Insights - The FOMC is reassessing the degree of monetary policy restrictiveness, with Chair Powell expected to advocate for a gradual withdrawal of such policies [3][4][16] - The current economic outlook suggests a slowdown in growth, with real GDP projected to decrease from over 3% in 2023 to approximately 1.5% in 2024 [21][23] - Inflation is anticipated to stabilize around 2.6% to 2.7% for the remainder of the year, with core PCE inflation expected to touch 2.0% by Q2 of the following year [12][18] Summary by Sections Economic Outlook - The FOMC has indicated a slow removal of policy restraint, with the unemployment rate currently at 4.25% and real GDP growth ranging from 1.8% to 2.1% [8][12] - A significant increase in nonfarm payroll employment (114K) and a three-month moving average of 170K are seen as sufficient to shift risk assessments [5][30] Inflation and Wage Growth - The core PCE price increase in July was slightly lower than previous estimates, with nominal wage growth slowing to a year-over-year change of 3.6% [7][12] - The report suggests that inflation may appear sticky due to base effects and residual seasonality, but underlying progress is viewed as encouraging [7][12] Labor Market Dynamics - The labor market is expected to slow in response to the broader economic slowdown, with projections indicating an average pace of nonfarm payroll employment of 165K in Q3 and 130K in Q4 [30][32] - Concerns are raised about the vulnerability of the expansion, particularly as consumer spending is projected to slow due to pressures on lower-income households [27][29] Policy Implications - The FOMC's policy outlook is expected to be updated at the upcoming Jackson Hole meeting, with a focus on recalibrating monetary policy to align with economic conditions [16][48] - The report emphasizes that if inflation continues to move toward the 2% target, it would be appropriate to gradually lower the federal funds rate to avoid overly restrictive conditions [13][18]