Monetary policy

The Federal Open Market Committee needs to be cautious on monetary policy or the yield curve could invert, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said.

President Donald Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate increases, breaking with more than two decades of White House tradition of avoiding comments on monetary policy out of respect for the independence of the U.S. central bank.

The U.S. economic expansion rolled along and labor markets tightened in June and early July, even as tariffs heightened concern among manufacturers.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said risks to the U.S. central bank’s inflation forecast were “roughly balanced” even as he noted lingering concern over sluggish price rises.

The Federal Reserve should get monetary policy to a neutral stance, but that could be “challenging,” Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George said.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said protectionism can hurt economic growth and potentially undermine wages.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank will continue to gradually raise interest rates “for now’’ to keep inflation near target amid a strong U.S. labor market.

Neel Kashkari does not want to invert the yield curve.

Monetary policy is still accommodative and gradual increases in the fed funds rate target will proceed, according to the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy report to Congress, released Friday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell gave an upbeat assessment of the U.S. economy.