Navigating the Fed's Dual Mandate - Bloomberg Surveillance https://t.co/BI8MjzH98g ...

Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Decisions - The Federal Reserve is strongly inclined to lower interest rates, with discussions indicating two to three potential cuts this year, following a 25 basis point cut on September 17th [1] - There is a debate among officials regarding the necessity and timing of interest rate cuts, with some arguing against any cuts and suggesting caution in rate hikes [2][3] Economic Concerns and Dual Mandate - The Federal Reserve faces challenges in balancing its dual mandate of controlling inflation and promoting employment, leading to inconsistencies in its policy decisions [5][6] - The current administration is focused on economic growth and preventing unemployment from rising, but there are concerns about the potential weakening of the economy [7][8] AI's Impact on the Economy - The AI sector is seen as a significant driver of economic growth, but there are concerns about its sustainability and the potential for failures among companies in this space [10][12] - The disparity between the performance of the AI-related economy and the non-AI economy raises questions about inflationary pressures and employment [13] Inflation and Consumer Expectations - Current inflation is running above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, with consumer inflation expectations increasing from 3.2% to 3.4% [13] - The Fed's struggle with stagflation is highlighted, indicating a weak economy coupled with rising inflation [13]

Core Viewpoint - The Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee expresses caution regarding rapid interest rate cuts due to rising inflation and deteriorating employment conditions [1][2]. Group 1: Inflation and Employment - Goolsbee highlights an uptick in inflation alongside deteriorating payroll job numbers, creating a challenging situation for the Federal Reserve as both sides of its dual mandate are under pressure [2]. - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to lower the benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point in September, with indications of potential further cuts before year-end [2]. Group 2: Economic Outlook - Goolsbee, a voting member of the FOMC, acknowledges concerns about inflation and employment but notes that data suggests a stable labor market [3]. - He believes the underlying economy can support gradual interest rate reductions over time from current levels [3].

Monetary Policy Framework - The policy decisions are guided by principles that consider deviations from goals and varying time horizons for achieving the dual mandate of maximum employment and price stability [1] - Monetary policy is forward-looking, considering the time lags in its effects on the economy, thus policy actions depend on the economic outlook and balance of risks [2] - Setting a numerical goal for employment is considered unwise because the maximum level of employment is not directly measurable and changes over time for reasons unrelated to monetary policy [3] - A longer-run inflation rate of 2% is viewed as most consistent with the dual mandate goals, and commitment to this target helps keep longer-term inflation expectations well anchored [3] Inflation Target - Experience has shown that 2% inflation is low enough to ensure that inflation is not a concern in household and business decision-making while also providing a central bank with some policy flexibility to provide accommodation during economic downturns [4] Review Cycle - The consensus statement retained a commitment to conduct a public review roughly every 5 years to reassess structural features of the economy and engage with the public, practitioners, and academics on the performance of the framework [4][5]

Federal Reserve Policy & Dual Mandate - The Federal Reserve's dual mandate of inflation and jobs is creating a dilemma, as these goals appear to be in conflict [1] - The Fed needs to determine which aspect of its dual mandate to prioritize: weaker jobs data potentially leading to rate cuts, or persistent inflation [1][2] Interest Rate Path & Economic Factors - The market is closely watching for signals from the Federal Reserve regarding the future interest rate path [1] - Factors influencing the Fed's decision include weaker jobs reports, inflation trends (especially services inflation), and potential tariff relief [2] - It remains uncertain whether Fed Chair Powell's speech at Jackson Hole will indicate a path towards rate cuts or a continuation of the "wait and see" approach [3] Committee Decision-Making - Interest rate decisions are made by the full Federal Reserve committee, not solely by the chair [3]

Monetary Policy & Economic Outlook - The market is focused on the implications of the September 17th events and recent economic data [1] - The speaker interprets recent labor market trends as showing renewed business optimism after initial uncertainty [2][3] - There's a belief that inflation is trending closer to 3% rather than 2%, with the Open Market Committee viewing inflation as a significant risk [4] - Companies have adapted to supply chain disruptions, potentially mitigating the impact of tariffs and other shocks [6][7] - As inflation approaches the dual mandate target, policy rate decisions become more complex [9][10] - The current policy rate is considered modestly restrictive, but the speaker is seeking evidence of economic inhibition [11] - The goal is to achieve a soft landing to 2% inflation without causing economic disruption [12] Federal Reserve Communication & Framework - The Federal Reserve is reviewing its framework, incorporating lessons from the 2020 pandemic cycle, with a focus on improving transmission of its policies [14][15] - A consistent framework is deemed important for collaboration and consensus among the 19 members, while maintaining agility [17][18] - There are ongoing debates about the appropriate level of Federal Reserve communication, balancing transparency with avoiding market speculation [19][20] - The Federal Reserve aims to improve public understanding of its actions and the dual mandate [21] Federal Reserve Independence & Public Perception - The Federal Reserve maintains its independence from political influence, focusing on its economic mandate [22] - The Federal Reserve's credibility is tied to fulfilling its monetary policy responsibilities [25] - Conversations with people in the district provide real-time feedback that informs policy discussions [27] - The Federal Reserve is focused on ensuring safe and sound banks, payment systems, and valuable research [28] - The Federal Reserve differentiates between the understanding of monetary policy by business/finance professionals and the general public, emphasizing the importance of communicating the dual mandate [29][30]

Monetary Policy Outlook - The market anticipates the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates by 25 basis points at the September meeting [2] - The Producer Price Index (PPI) data reinforces expectations of a rate cut, focusing on the magnitude rather than the likelihood [2] - The Fed's decision to cut rates is primarily driven by concerns about employment, despite stalled disinflation [2] Dual Mandate Considerations - The Fed's weighting of its dual mandate (employment and inflation) depends on proximity to goals; with inflation closer to target, employment concerns gain importance [4][5] - Historically, the Fed tends to act more decisively when concerned about employment [4] - Some Fed speakers express reservations about inflation remaining a persistent problem [6] Risks and Uncertainties - Tariffs potentially seeping into prices could cause inflation to rise, complicating the Fed's policy decisions [8] - The Fed is willing to accept stalled disinflation to a certain extent, but dislikes it, tempering enthusiasm for rate cuts [9]

You referred to the inflation risk. The White House would also like the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. You've been in the room a few times, I'm sure, talking about this Federal Reserve.How did the president end up with a Fed chair that he disliked so much. How did that happen. Well, well, I've been watching a lot of what the president has had to say about Jay Powell lately, and he did appoint him.So that's part of the awkward aspect here. Well, first, I think the president of the United States is fu ...