Fed’s Kashkari: Risk to US inflation now higher than risk of deterioration in labour market
Minneapolis Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank President Neel Kashkari said in the European trading session on Wednesday that the major concern for the central bank now is higher United States (US) inflation than deteriorating labor market conditions; however, the central bank needs to pay attention to both.
Additional remarks
Fed should have neutral policy outlook going forward.
Most of the US data released since my dissent in April has shown inflationary risks are higher, not lower.
Far too soon to make prediction on when next Fed move could be, when asked about market bets of October rate hike.
Inflationary shockwave sent across globe from Middle East war could persist.
Concern over global inflation working its way into bond market.
Market reaction
A marginal selling pressure was seen in the US Dollar (USD) after Fed Kashkari's comments. As of writing, the US Dollar Index (DXY) trades 0.1% lower to near 99.05.
Fed FAQs
Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.
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