Federal Reserve Policy & Economic Outlook - The Federal Reserve is in no rush to adjust interest rates due to uncertainty about the economy, inflation, and the labor market [3] - The unemployment rate remains stable, similar to the previous summer [1][2][5] - The Fed aims to prevent any rise in inflation from becoming persistent, emphasizing the importance of keeping inflation expectations in check through patience [3] - The market anticipates rate cuts in the coming year, regardless of economic data, potentially influenced by a new Fed chair [13] - All Federal Open Market Committee members expect interest rates to be lower by the end of next year [17] Labor Market Dynamics - Labor demand growth is slowing, but the labor market hasn't loosened because the unemployment rate is unchanged [5] - Both labor supply and labor demand have slowed, with immigration policy being a contributing factor to the slowdown in labor supply [2][5] - Payroll employment growth has decelerated, which could become problematic if the trend continues [4] Tariff Impact & Trade Policy - The impact of tariffs on the economy is uncertain, particularly regarding inflation and business fixed investment [3][10] - A hypothetical 18%-20% tariff rate is compared to the economic tensions of the 1930s [6] - The current tariff shock may be more significant than in the 1930s due to a higher share of imports in GDP [8] - Most economists believe that tariffs will eventually be passed through to consumers, with every 1% increase in tariffs as a percent of imports adding about 01% to the price level [11][12] - An increase from 25% to 17%-18% in tariffs on imports could raise the level of prices by about 05% [12]

Summary of Federal Reserve System Update / Briefing July 30, 2025 Key Points on the Federal Reserve and Economic Conditions Economic Overview - The economy is in a solid position with a low unemployment rate and maximum employment achieved [1][4] - GDP growth moderated to 1.2% in the first half of the year, down from 2.5% last year, with a stronger second quarter growth of 3% [2][3] - Consumer spending has slowed, while business investment in equipment and intangibles has increased [3][4] - The housing sector remains weak, and payroll job gains averaged 150,000 per month over the past three months [3][4] Inflation Insights - Inflation is running above the 2% target, with total PCE prices rising 2.5% over the past year and core PCE prices rising 2.7% [5][4] - Services inflation has eased, but increased tariffs are contributing to higher prices in some goods categories [5][6] - The Fed is focused on keeping longer-term inflation expectations anchored while managing potential inflation risks [7][6] Monetary Policy Decisions - The Federal Open Market Committee decided to maintain the federal funds rate at 4.5% [2][6] - The current monetary policy is viewed as modestly restrictive, appropriate for the current economic conditions [11][12] - The Fed is awaiting more data on employment and inflation before making decisions on potential rate cuts [12][13] Labor Market Dynamics - The labor market remains solid, with the unemployment rate at 4.1% and wage growth moderating but still outpacing inflation [4][21] - There are downside risks to the labor market, with job creation slowing and the supply of workers also declining [20][81] - The Fed is closely monitoring the balance of risks in the labor market and the overall economy [8][81] Future Considerations - The Fed is in a wait-and-see mode regarding the impact of tariffs on inflation and the broader economy [31][36] - Discussions are ongoing about potential revisions to the monetary policy framework, with a focus on balancing maximum employment and price stability [9][84] - The Fed emphasizes the importance of data in guiding future monetary policy decisions, particularly regarding inflation and employment [63][94] Additional Insights - The Fed does not consider the fiscal needs of the government when making monetary policy decisions, focusing instead on its dual mandate [40][41] - The independence of the Fed is highlighted as crucial for making data-driven decisions without political influence [73][74] - The Fed is monitoring the evolving economic landscape, including consumer spending trends and the effects of tariffs on inflation [76][78]

Economic Activity & GDP - GDP and Private Domestic Final Purchases (PDFP) numbers aligned with expectations [1] - Economic activity data, including GDP and PDFP, slowed to slightly above 1%, specifically 1.2% for GDP in the first half of the year, compared to 25% the previous year, indicating a slowdown [2] Labor Market - Labor market remains balanced across various statistics, including quits, job openings, and the unemployment rate, similar to levels from a year prior [3] - Job creation is slowing, but so is the supply of workers, maintaining a labor market balance, though this balance is due to declines in both supply and demand, suggesting downside risk [4] - The primary focus is on inflation and maximum employment, with the labor market appearing solid [5] - Downside risks to the labor market are apparent [5] - Equilibrium job growth should be assessed by monitoring the unemployment rate, as both demand and supply for workers are decreasing in tandem [6] Monetary Policy & Inflation - Weakness in interest-sensitive sectors like residential investment and commercial structures raises questions about whether monetary policy is too restrictive [1] - Inflation remains above target, even when excluding tariff effects, justifying the current monetary policy stance [5]

Monetary Policy Stance - The Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave the policy interest rate unchanged, believing the current stance is well-positioned to respond to potential economic developments [2] - The committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 4 and 1/4 to 4 and 1/2% and to continue reducing the size of the balance sheet [8] - The current policy stance is seen as appropriate to guard against inflation risks [10] Economic Activity - Recent indicators suggest that growth of economic activity has moderated [3] - GDP rose at a 12% pace in the first half of this year, down from 25% last year [3] - Payroll job gains averaged 150000 per month over the past 3 months, with the unemployment rate at 41% remaining low [4] - Business investment in equipment and intangibles picked up from last year's pace, while activity in the housing sector remains weak [4] Inflation - Inflation has eased significantly from its highs in mid-2022, but remains somewhat elevated relative to the 2% longer-run goal [5] - Total PCE prices rose 25% over the 12 months ending in June, and core PCE prices rose 27% [6] - Near-term measures of inflation expectations have moved up on balance over the course of this year on news about tariffs [7] - Higher tariffs have begun to show through more clearly to prices of some goods, but their overall effects on economic activity and inflation remain to be seen [9] Labor Market - Conditions in the labor market are broadly in balance and consistent with maximum employment [5] - Wage growth has continued to moderate while still outpacing inflation [5]

Core Points - Economic activity growth moderated in the first half of the year, with low unemployment and solid labor market conditions, while inflation remains elevated [1] - The Federal Reserve aims for maximum employment and a long-term inflation rate of 2 percent, amidst elevated uncertainty regarding the economic outlook [2] - The target range for the federal funds rate is maintained at 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 percent, with ongoing assessments of incoming data and risks [3][4] Monetary Policy Implementation - Effective July 31, 2025, the interest rate on reserve balances is set at 4.4 percent, with open market operations to maintain the federal funds rate within the target range [8] - Standing overnight repurchase agreement operations will have a minimum bid rate of 4.5 percent and an aggregate operation limit of $500 billion [8] - The Federal Reserve will reinvest principal payments from agency debt and mortgage-backed securities into Treasury securities, with a monthly cap of $35 billion [8]

Monetary Policy Stance - The Federal Reserve views its current policy stance as appropriate to guard against inflation risks and is attentive to employment risks [3] - The committee is on track to wrap up any modifications to its statement on longer run goals and monetary policy strategy by late summer [4] - The Federal Reserve aims to bring inflation sustainably to its 2% goal and keep longer term inflation expectations well anchored [5] Economic Outlook and Risks - Changes to government policies continue to evolve, and their effects on the economy remain uncertain [1] - Higher tariffs have begun to show through more clearly to prices of some goods, but their overall effects on economic activity and inflation remain to be seen [1] - There is a risk that inflationary effects could be more persistent [2] - The Federal Reserve is well-positioned to learn more about the likely course of the economy and the evolving balance of risks before adjusting its policy stance [3] Data and Assessment - In coming months, the committee will receive a good amount of data that will help inform its assessment of the balance of risks and the appropriate setting of the federal funds rate [4]

know, the, the usual suspects are, you know, crowing about about that. The fed is set to issue its latest monetary policy decision this afternoon. Joining us now, Mark Cabana head of U.S. Rates strategy at Bank of America Securities.Fed guidance gets criticized a lot. We just had Kevin Warsh on not too long ago, and there are a lot of people that say, why do we need to know every waking thought. But we do know every waking thought as a result of that, I guess you're not expecting any major surprises today, ...

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