Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Boston President Susan Collins and Fed Board of Governors member Lisa Cook participated in a virtual discussion on Wednesday, with both key policymakers cautioning that overarching uncertainty remains a key sticking point for Fed policy transmission, as well as the central bank’s ability to manage policy rates effectively.
Key Collins highlights
Key to understand how uncertainty impacts economy.
Uncertainty notable in areas where long-term investment is happening.
We must look at data holistically to measure uncertainty levels.
Uncertainty can even speed up some types of economic activity.
Uncertainty leading to wait and see approach to price setting.
Higher productivity growth has improved economy’s supply side.
Fed Cook highlights
We must be cautious and humble when looking at data.
Latest jobs report is concerning.
Big revisions can happen at economic turning points.
Unemployment rate still a good indicator of slack.
AI technology could affect both job and inflation sides of Fed mandate.
AI could bring gains to price stability.
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.