In a recent turn of events, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic hinted at the Fed’s potential decisions on interest rates. According to the Federal Reserve President, the central bank may reduce interest rates twice in 2025. However, he expresses considerable uncertainty about the impact of President Donald Trump’s trade and migration policies.
Atlanta Federal Reserve President Comments on Interest Rate Cuts
According to a recent Reuters report, Raphael Bostic, the President of the Atlanta Federal Reserve, stated that the Fed will lower interest rates twice this year. However, adding uncertainty surrounding the expectations, he highlighted other major factors that could influence the Fed’s decision.
“While that’s my baseline expectation, there’s a lot that is going to happen that could influence that really in both directions,” posited Bostic. Further, citing potential changes in trade, immigration, energy, and fiscal policies, he added, “Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty about where some important factors are going to land.” Concluding his view, he added that his current outlook may likely change after six months.
Fed President’s View on Strong US Economy
Moreover, in an essay today, the Atlanta Federal Reserve President wrote about the central bank’s solid monetary policy and the country’s strong economy. According to Bostic, the current monetary policy is well-positioned.
Though he believes the US economy is strong, he doesn’t see the factors as a reason to relax. His statement highlights the uncertainty surrounding the new Trump administration’s policies and moves. His concerns suggest that heightened policy uncertainty could impact the labor market and inflation.
Federal Reserve’s Rate Cut and Jerome Powell’s Hawkish Stance
Following the Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting at the end of January 2025, Chair Jerome Powell announced the bank’s decision to hold the interest rate unchanged at the 4.25%-4.5% level. The development initially sent the crypto market into a slump, but it has since staged a gradual recovery.
Later, on February 12, at his semi-annual monetary report, Powell shared a hawkish approach to interest cuts. He stated that the Fed sees no urgency in altering its policy as the economy remains strong. He added that the policy stance is “less restrictive” than before.
Inflation Deemed the Biggest Risk
The Atlanta Federal Reserve President considers inflation the biggest risk, despite its recent decline. With the risks to the Fed’s dual mandate now more balanced, he is increasingly focused on achieving 2% inflation without compromising labor market gains. Bostic stated,
I still think the biggest risk is inflation. As inflation has come way down, the risks to the mandates have come more into balance and so I’m more sensitive now to the possibility that we could get inflation at 2% without seeing a lot of damage in labor markets.
Nonetheless, the Federal Reserve’s next move remains unclear. At the same time, it remains uncertain how it will impact the crypto market. However, if the Fed maintains its hawkish stance, it could potentially trigger a bearish sentiment.
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