New York Fed's Williams warns interest rates likely to stay high for a while
Fed policymakers signal interest rates must climb higher to fight inflation
Fed expected to raise interest rates again to curb inflation
Fox News contributor Jonas Max Ferris joined 'Kennedy' to weigh in on inflation and what the Federal Reserve will do next to bring it down.
New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said Tuesday that he expects the U.S. central bank to raise interest rates higher this year and to keep them elevated at those levels until inflation slows down.
Speaking at a virtual event hosted by The Wall Street Journal, Williams stressed that policymakers remain focused on bringing inflation closer to the Fed's 2% goal and will need to push the interbank lending rate higher in order to do so.
"We need to have somewhat restrictive policy to slow demand and we’re not there yet," he said, adding: "This is not something we’re going to do for a very short period and then change course."
His comments echoed those made by Chairman Jerome Powell in a keynote speech last week at the Kansas Federal Reserve's annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In his message, Powell reiterated a pledge to "forcefully" fight inflation that is still running near the hottest pace in 40 years.
FED RAISES INTEREST RATES BY 75 BASIS POINTS IN ANOTHER HISTORIC MOVE TO TACKLE INFLATION
Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, from right, Lael Brainard, vice chair of the board of governors for the Federal Reserve System, and John Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, durin (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
"While higher interest rates, slower growth and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring some pain to households and businesses," Powell said. "These are the unfortunate costs of reducing inflation. But a failure to restore price stability would mean far greater pain."
Even with four consecutive interest rate hikes, including two back-to-back 75-basis-point increases, Powell stressed that the Fed is not in a place to "stop or pause" — an unwelcome sign for investors who were predicting a rate cut next year.
The current benchmark federal funds range of 2.25% to 2.50% is around the "neutral" level, meaning that it neither supports nor restricts economic activity. But the Fed chief, along with Williams, signaled that a restrictive stance will almost certainly be necessary as the central bank tries to pump the brakes on the economy.
Although inflation moderated slightly in July — the Fed's preferred gauge to track price growth fell 0.1% on a monthly basis — Powell said that it is not enough to determine that policymakers' tightening mission has been successful.
Jerome Powell, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, speaks during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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"We are moving our policy stance purposefully to a level that will be sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2%," he said, suggesting that "restoring price stability will likely require maintaining a restrictive policy stance for some time. The historical record cautions strongly against prematurely loosening policy."