Federal Reserve Board Governor Michelle Bowman speaks on “Forward Guidance as a Monetary Policy Tool: Considerations for the Current Economic Environment” before the Money Marketeers of New York University, in New York.

Headlines via Reuters:

  • ‘sizable’ rate hikes should remain on table if do not see signs inflation is moving down
  • Fully supported Fed’s 75-bps rate hikes
  • If inflation starts to decline, slower pace of rate increases would be appropriate
  • ‘not yet clear’ how high rate will need to go
  • Inflation much too high, must bring it down
  • Fed funds rate will need to rise to restrictive level, remain there ‘for some time’
  • Not yet clear how much time before inflation moves down in ‘consistent,’ ‘lasting’ way
  • Significant uncertainty on inflation outlook makes it challenging to provide precise guidance on path of rates
  • Outlook for inflation, economic activity has ‘significant two-sided risks’
  • High uncertainty puts a premium on flexibility
  • Should limit explicit forward guidance to when rates are near zero and inflation subdued
  • Benefits of explicit forward guidance lower, risks are higher now than in years following the 2008 crisis
  • Should communicate unwavering resolve to restore price stability, decide policy meeting-by-meeting, stay attentive to risks

Nothing much to set Bowman apart from most of her Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) colleagues here. Bowman is acknowledging data-dependence to guide the rate-hike path ahead.

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