14:38 *(US) FED CHAIR POWELL: DOES NOT EXPECT 75BPS HIKES TO BE COMMON; EITHER 50BPS or 75BPS RAISE SEEMS MOST LIKELY AT NEXT MEETING
- POST RATE DECISION COMMENTS:
- Next meeting could well be decision between 50bps and 75bps; Would take us to a more normal range and then we'd have optionality on speed of rates moving forward
- SEP shows we want to see policy at modestly restrictive level at end of this year; That's generally a range of 3-3.5%
- Fed will try not to add uncertainty
- Further surprises in inflation could be in store; Will need to be nimble
- In current circumstances we think it's helpful to provide more clarity than usual on policy; Markets show they understand the path we lay out
- When I offered guidance of 50 bps hike at last meeting, I said that if data came in worse than expected, we would consider more aggressive move; CPI and inflation expectations data last week made us realize 75bps was way to go
- Did not want to wait another six weeks for larger move; We thought strong action was needed at this meeting
- We would like to see a series of declining inflation readings; Looking for 'compelling evidence' of inflation abating
- We had expected to see inflation flattening out by now
- Demand is still very hot; We would like to see demand moderating
- We'd like to see labor market in better balance between supply and demand; Feels there is a role for Fed in moderating labor demand
- Fed will not be completely model driven in our approach
- Neutral rate is 'pretty low' these days; We will find out neutral rate empirically
- Data shows inflation expectations are still in place where short-term inflation high but comes down sharply over the medium term; Last week's Univ of Michigan inflation reading was 'quite eye-catching'
- This was a very unusual situation where we got new inflation data that affected the outcome of the decision late, during the blackout period
- What we want to see is a series of declining monthly inflation readings; We will not declare victory until we see compelling data that inflation is coming down
- Clearly our goals are getting inflation to 2% while keeping the labor market strong; The pathways to achieving this have become more challenging due to factors outside of our control (like the Ukraine war)
- Expectations are at risk due to high headline inflation
- Consumer spending overall remains strong; No signs of a broader slowdown in the economy; People are talking about a slowdown a lot due to higher gas prices and lower stock prices, but not seeing signs of broader slowdown
- On rates there is always the risk of going too far or not far enough; Worst mistake we could make would be to fail on inflation and restoring price stability, that is the bedrock of the economy
- We don't think we are seeing a wage/price spiral
- I think the projections in the SEP would meet the test of a 'softish' landing; I do think it is possible, but the events of the last few months have created a greater degree of difficulty
- We will have the Fed funds rate somewhere in the 2%'s by the end of the summer; We will also have more data by then
- This is a highly uncertain environment; We will be determined but flexible
- Have no reason to think that QT will lead to liquidity issues in the market
- Carefully watching how much policy will affect housing market and residential investments