NY Fed Pres. John Williams: Independent central banks can deliver low inflation, financial stability

Federal Reserve Independence & Governance - The Federal Reserve's independence is crucial for maintaining low inflation and economic/financial stability, shielding long-term decisions from short-term political pressures [4][5][6] - The structure of the Federal Reserve is designed to ensure independent policy makers make decisions affecting the economy over the longer term [5] - Central bank independence has proven valuable worldwide, leading to better outcomes for countries [6] Economic Outlook - GDP growth slowed to approximately 125% (one and a quarter percent) at an annual rate in the first half of the year, compared to around 250% (two and a half percent) the previous year [9] - The economy is undergoing an adjustment process, partly due to post-pandemic factors and policy changes, including trade policy [10] - The economy is expected to continue growing at an annual rate of 100% to 150% (one to one and a half percent) for the year as a whole, slower than the previous year but still with positive momentum [11] Labor Market Analysis - The labor market is currently solid, with an unemployment rate of 42% (four and two-tenths percent), which is historically low [13] - There has been a slowdown in the pace of hiring and payroll growth, partly due to a slower labor supply caused by reduced immigration [14] - Wage growth remains consistent with a solid labor market and inflation trending towards the 2% goal [19]