Two senior FED officials made statements arguing that monetary policy should be kept tight in the fight against inflation.
Federal Reserve Board Member Beth M. Hammack stated that the dollar’s weakening this year is not a concern and emphasized the need to avoid easing monetary policy. St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem stated that the current stance is close to neutral, so there isn’t much room for easing.
Hammack emphasized that discussions about the dollar’s depreciation shouldn’t be exaggerated, saying, “There’s been a lot of talk this year about the dollar weakening. However, it’s important to remember that we started the year with a very strong dollar. The current weakening means the dollar is approaching its theoretical fair value.”
Hammack noted that the Fed’s dual mandate of addressing inflation and employment has made decision-making challenging, noting that inflation remains at alarming levels. He stated, “We need to maintain downward pressure on inflation to bring it back to target. To achieve this, we must maintain a certain level of tightness in monetary policy.”
Another senior Fed official, Alberto Musalem, stated that monetary policy is currently “closer to neutral,” adding that there is no room for large-scale easing. Recalling that US inflation is still hovering around 3%, Musalem said, “We need to proceed cautiously as we look ahead. Inflation remains above target, so we must maintain pressure for some time.” Musalem also advocated for supporting the labor market, stating that the Fed faces the need for a balanced approach.
*This is not investment advice.