Powell: Elevated Inflation Will Likely Delay Rate Cuts
“If higher inflation does persist,” he said, “we can maintain the current level of [interest rates] for as long as needed.”
March Inflation Reading Means ‘Bad News’ for Mortgage Rates
Consumer inflation remained persistently high last month, boosted by gas, rents, auto insurance and other items, the government said Wednesday in a report that will likely give pause to the Federal Reserve as it weighs when and by how much to cut interest rates this year
When Will Fed Cut Rates? As Economy Flexes Muscles, Maybe Never
The Fed typically cuts only when the economy appears to be weakening and needs help. But with economic data looking strong – the commercial real estate sector aside – will its policymakers see a need to even cut at all?
Jamie Dimon Warns of Potential Interest Rate Spike
With some investors and economists questioning whether the Federal Reserve can make good on interest rate cuts this year, the JPMorgan Chase CEO warned of the possibility of rates rising to 8 percent or higher.
Powell Still Sees Room for Rate Cuts in 2024
Federal Reserve officials will likely reduce their benchmark interest rate later this year, Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday, despite recent reports showing that the U.S. economy is still strong and that U.S. inflation picked up recently.
Stop. You’re Making It Worse
Recent hoopla about soft landings aside, the Federal Reserve’s drive to bring down prices has made immeasurably worse what was already the most expensive item in Americans’ budgets: the cost of housing.
Fed Still Sees Three Rate Cuts in ’24, Fewer Next Year
In new quarterly projections they issued, Fed officials forecast that stronger growth and stubborn inflation would persist this year and next, meaning the central bank’s benchmark interest rate will stay higher for longer.
Powell May Hint at Rate Cuts Today
Two weeks ago, Chair Jerome Powell suggested that the Federal Reserve was “not far” from gaining the confidence it needed that inflation was headed sustainably down. It was a tantalizing suggestion.
Fed Likely to Preach Patience on Rate Cuts
Across the United States, many people are eagerly anticipating the Federal Reserve’s first cut to its benchmark interest rate this year: Prospective home buyers hope for lower mortgage rates. Wall Street traders envision higher stock prices. Housing developers looking to get shovels in the ground.
Powell Waves White Flag on Basel III
A sweeping bank regulatory proposal will be significantly revised by year’s end, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday, a potential victory for the large banks that have aggressively opposed the likely changes.
Fewer Banks Tightening Lending Standards, Raising Hopes
Fewer banks tightened lending standards as 2023 came to a close, a hopeful sign for businesses that broader loan access is on the horizon.
Fed Officials Caution Against Cutting Interest Rates Too Soon or Too Much
Several Federal Reserve policymakers warned Thursday against cutting U.S. interest rates too soon or by too much in the wake of recent data showing inflation stayed unexpectedly high in January.
Inflation Is Nearly Back to 2 Percent. So Why Isn’t the Fed Ready to Cut Rates?
From Wall Street traders to car dealers to home buyers, Americans are eager for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates and lightening the heavy burden on borrowers.
Mass. Bankers Supports Lawsuit Over ‘Counterproductive’ CRA Rules
The Massachusetts Bankers Association is voicing support for a lawsuit filed by national bank trade groups earlier this week over stringent and what the national groups call “counterproductive” changes made to Community Reinvestment Act rules.
In Interview, Powell Confirms Three Rate Cuts Likely
The Fed chair also reiterated that the central bank’s next meeting in March was likely too soon for a rate cut. Most economists think the first cut is likely to come in May or June.
Powell: Fed On Track to Cut Rates, Though Not for Months
Investors and some economists had been holding out the possibility that the Fed might cut as early as its next meeting in March. That now appears off the table.
Inflation Has Slowed. Now the Fed Faces Expectations for Rate Cuts
An unexpectedly rosy economic picture may have left some Fed officials saddled by uncertainty. Yet they are expected to wait for at least a few months before they start reducing rates.
Banker & Tradesman’s Editorial Cartoon: Subtle Signalling
Fed Chair Jerome Powell is trying a new, prop-based form of “forward guidance” in his latest public appearance.
Top Fed Official Says Inflation Nearly Won, Rate Cuts Coming
A top Federal Reserve official said this week that he is increasingly confident that inflation will continue falling, but provided few hints of the likely timetable for Fed rate cuts.
Don’t Celebrate Fed Rate Cuts Yet
Top Federal Reserve officials’ predictions that they would have to cut interest rates three times next year sent a bolt of energy through markets last week. But no one, especially policymakers in town halls or on Beacon Hill, should think we’re about to get some kind of relief from current market conditions.
