“Powell Signals Rate Cuts Could be Delayed, More Rate Hikes Could be Incoming

Fed Chair Powell’s stance on the current monetary policy in the United States has always been rather clear; he is in favor of keeping interest rates steady. This has been true throughout his term, even when other opinions were noting that slashing rates could help bolster the economy. In a recent statement from the Federal Reserve chairman, he discussed the topic of interest rates yet again. The main focus was on the possibility of a rate cut, which has been hinted at to some degree in recent weeks. However, Chair Powell believes that this talk of cutting rates is “premature” and that more rate hikes are still possible in the future. Powell spoke on the current level of the federal funds rate at the recently held Federal Open Market Committee press conference. He said that given the current economic conditions, reducing the target rate would be a cause for concern. This is because the Fed is trying to maintain a low unemployment rate and increased consumer spending, two areas in which rate cuts could potentially throw off equilibrium. While Powell kept the door open to rate hikes in the future, he also warned against what he called “premature” talk of rate cuts. This, he said, could be interpreted as “bringing hypothesizing about the future of the economy into the today”. This could, in turn, cloud the Federal Reserve’s judgement in economic decisions. All in all, it seems as though Powell is not entirely opposed to rate cuts, should they be necessary. He is just asking that the topic not be discussed too early or too much. This will help him and the Federal Reserve make the best possible decisions in the future.