Fed chairman Jay Powell says central bank will ‘keep at’ job of curbing inflation

Jay Powell declared the Federal Reserve “must keep at it until the job is done” as he used a speech at Jackson Hole to deliver his most hawkish message to date on the US central bank’s determination to tame soaring inflation by raising interest rates.

In a hotly anticipated address at the first in-person gathering of global central bankers since the pandemic, Mr Powell said reducing inflation would probably result in “a sustained period of below-trend growth” and predicted there “will very likely be some softening of labour market” conditions.

“These are the unfortunate costs of reducing inflation,” said Mr Powell as he predicted “some pain” for households and businesses. “But a failure to restore price stability would mean far greater pain.”

‘Inflation expectations’

The remarks were intended to dispel doubts over the Fed’s resolve to continue squeezing the US economy to root out inflation after it embarked on the most aggressive tightening of monetary policy since 1981.

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“We are taking forceful and rapid steps to moderate demand so that it comes into better alignment with supply, and to keep inflation expectations anchored,” said Mr Powell. His speech stood in sharp contrast to the message he delivered at last year’s symposium when he predicted that surging consumer prices were a “transitory” phenomenon stemming from supply chain-related issues. It has since become clear that inflation is demand-driven and therefore likely to persist for longer.

The Fed chairman harked back to the lessons of the 1970s when the US central bank presided over a period of turmoil after it made several policy blunders and failed to rein in inflation. That forced Paul Volcker, who became Fed chair in August 1979, to choke the economy and cause more pain than would have been necessary if officials had acted more quickly.

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“The historical record cautions strongly against prematurely loosening policy,” said Mr Powell as he explained that interest rates will need to stay at a level that restrains growth “for some time”.

The main lesson of that period was that “central banks can and should take responsibility for delivering low and stable inflation”, he said, reiterating the Fed’s “unconditional” commitment to tackling price growth.

He also highlighted the risk posed by inflation remaining too high for too long, setting off a chain reaction whereby people come to expect further price increases.

“The longer the current bout of high inflation continues, the greater the chance that expectations of higher inflation will become entrenched,” warned Mr Powell.

Financial markets had rallied in recent weeks amid expectations the Fed might ease up its efforts to damp demand as incoming economic data deteriorated further and concerns grew over the risks of being too heavy-handed.

Half-point rise

Last month the central bank delivered its second consecutive 0.75 percentage point rate rise, bringing the federal funds rate to a new target range of 2.25 per cent to 2.50 per cent.

Fed officials are debating whether a third increase of the same magnitude will be necessary at its meeting in September, or if they should opt for a half-point rise instead.

Mr Powell said at some point it would be appropriate to slow the pace of interest rate increases. But he dismissed recent data showing a slight easing of inflation as insufficient, adding: “A single month’s improvement falls far short of what the committee will need to see before we are confident that inflation is moving down.”

Most officials maintain they can bring inflation under control without causing a painful recession. That runs counter to the consensus view among Wall Street economists, who predict at least a mild recession sometime in the next year.

Economists also expect the unemployment rate to rise beyond the 4.1 per cent broadly anticipated by FOMC members [Federal Open Market Committee Members] and regional bank presidents in June. The unemployment rate, the current bright spot in the US economy, hovers at a multidecade low of 3.5 per cent. — Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2022