FOMC

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan said the central bank has been clear to investors and businesses on where the benchmark policy rate will be over the next few years.

The U.S. labor market is slowing after an initial strong rebound from the coronavirus-induced downturn and policymakers will be challenged to engineer a full recovery in employment, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin said.

While the Fed has written off negative interest rates as a last resort, without stimulus, consideration may be nearer.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s search for a Treasury secretary is widely seen as focusing on Lael Brainard of the Federal Reserve, a choice that would keep both Wall Street and progressives in line.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard, in the most upbeat comments by a central banker since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, said the U.S. economy may surge at a 35% annualized rate in the third quarter and the nation may be close to a complete recovery by year-end.

The U.S. economy’s recovery from the virus-induced recession will get much harder, with more permanent job losses unless there’s additional fiscal support, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell faced questions from U.S. lawmakers Wednesday over the central bank’s help for Americans compared with markets.

A “fragile” economy and his expectations for a “more gradual” than forecast recovery mean “fiscal- and monetary-policy stimulus are essential,” Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren said Wednesday.

Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida said the central bank won’t consider raising interest rates from near zero until it actually achieves 2% inflation for at least a few months as well as full employment.

The U.S. central bank’s new guidance on interest rates doesn’t preclude tightening before inflation averages 2% for some period of time, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said.