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Fed vice-chair: interest rate increase is 'expectation, not commitment' for 2015 Fed vice-chair: interest rate increase is 'expectation, not commitment' for 2015
(about 14 hours later)
Federal Reserve policymakers are still likely to raise interest rates this year, but that is “an expectation, not a commitment” and could change if the global economy pushes the US economy further off course, Fed vice-chairman Stanley Fischer said.Federal Reserve policymakers are still likely to raise interest rates this year, but that is “an expectation, not a commitment” and could change if the global economy pushes the US economy further off course, Fed vice-chairman Stanley Fischer said.
Related: Federal Reserve officials almost raised interest rates in September
“Both the timing of the first rate increase and any subsequent adjustments to the federal funds rate target will depend critically on future developments in the economy,” Fischer told a group on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund meeting in Peru.“Both the timing of the first rate increase and any subsequent adjustments to the federal funds rate target will depend critically on future developments in the economy,” Fischer told a group on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund meeting in Peru.
He said “considerable uncertainties” surrounded the US economic outlook, particularly the drag on exports from slowing global growth, low investment caused by the decline in oil prices and what he called a “disappointing” recent drop in US job growth.He said “considerable uncertainties” surrounded the US economic outlook, particularly the drag on exports from slowing global growth, low investment caused by the decline in oil prices and what he called a “disappointing” recent drop in US job growth.
Fischer said he felt the US economy was still generating enough jobs to continue making progress towards the Fed’s goal of maximum employment and that inflation would eventually rise. Based on that, he said, the US central bank should be able to keep on track with an initial rate hike expected in October or December.Fischer said he felt the US economy was still generating enough jobs to continue making progress towards the Fed’s goal of maximum employment and that inflation would eventually rise. Based on that, he said, the US central bank should be able to keep on track with an initial rate hike expected in October or December.
But he also cautioned the group that the US is now more exposed than ever to international events and that developments in China and elsewhere influenced the Fed to delay a widely expected rate increase in September.But he also cautioned the group that the US is now more exposed than ever to international events and that developments in China and elsewhere influenced the Fed to delay a widely expected rate increase in September.
“We do not currently anticipate that the effects of these recent developments on the US economy will prove to be large enough to have a significant effect on the path for policy,” Fischer said.“We do not currently anticipate that the effects of these recent developments on the US economy will prove to be large enough to have a significant effect on the path for policy,” Fischer said.
“That said, recent employment reports have been somewhat disappointing and, as always, we are closely monitoring developments that could affect our sense of the economic outlook and the risks surrounding that outlook.”“That said, recent employment reports have been somewhat disappointing and, as always, we are closely monitoring developments that could affect our sense of the economic outlook and the risks surrounding that outlook.”
Fischer was speaking on the sidelines of an IMF meeting where some other central bankers were encouraging the Fed to eliminate uncertainty and move forward with their rate “liftoff”.Fischer was speaking on the sidelines of an IMF meeting where some other central bankers were encouraging the Fed to eliminate uncertainty and move forward with their rate “liftoff”.
But Fischer said the implications of a global slowdown were too serious to ignore and would not let the Fed overcommit on its plans.But Fischer said the implications of a global slowdown were too serious to ignore and would not let the Fed overcommit on its plans.
Even though uncertainty about the Fed’s intentions might itself roil global markets, “We remain committed to communicating our intentions as clearly as possible – but not more than the facts warrant,” he said.Even though uncertainty about the Fed’s intentions might itself roil global markets, “We remain committed to communicating our intentions as clearly as possible – but not more than the facts warrant,” he said.