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BumRushDaShow

(130,447 posts)
Wed May 1, 2024, 02:03 PM May 1

Fed keeps rates steady as it notes 'lack of further progress' on inflation

Source: CNBC

Published Wed, May 1 2024 2:00 PM EDT Updated 4 Hours Ago


WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its ground on interest rates, again deciding not to cut as it continues a battle with inflation that has grown more difficult lately.

In a widely expected move, the U.S. central bank kept its benchmark short-term borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5.50%. The federal funds rate has been at that level since July 2023, when the Fed last hiked and took the range to its highest level in more than two decades.

The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee did vote to ease the pace at which it is reducing bond holdings on the central bank’s mammoth balance sheet, in what could be viewed as an incremental loosening of monetary policy. With its decision to hold the line on rates, the committee in its post-meeting statement noted a “lack of further progress” in getting inflation back down to its 2% target.

“The Committee does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent,” the statement said, reiterating language it had used after the January and March meetings.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/01/fed-rate-decision-may-2024-.html



Article updated.

Previous articles/headline -

Fed holds rate steady and moves to ease the pace of balance sheet reduction

Published Wed, May 1 2024 2:00 PM EDT Updated 2 Min Ago


WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its ground on interest rates, again deciding not to cut as it continues a battle with inflation that has grown more difficult lately.

In a widely expected move, the U.S. central bank kept its benchmark short-term borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5%. The federal funds rate has been at that level since July 2023, when the Fed last hiked and took the range to its highest level in more than two decades.

The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee did vote to ease the pace at which it is reducing bond holdings on the central bank's mammoth balance sheet, in what could be viewed as an incremental easing of monetary policy.

With its decision to hold the line on rates, the committee in its post-meeting statement noted a "lack of further progress" in getting inflation back down to its 2% target.



Published Wed, May 1 2024 2:00 PM EDT Updated 2 Min Ago


WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its ground on interest rates, again deciding not to cut as it continues a battle with inflation that has grown more difficult lately.

In a widely expected move, the U.S. central bank kept its benchmark short-term borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5%. The federal funds rate has been at that level since July 2023, when the Fed last hiked and took the range to its highest level in more than two decades.

The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee did vote to ease the pace at which it is reducing bond holdings on the Fed's mammoth balance sheet, in what could be viewed as an incremental easing of monetary policy.

With its the decision to hold the line on rates, the committee in its post-meeting statement noted a "lack of further progress" in getting inflation back down to the central bank's 2% target.



Original article -

Published Wed, May 1 2024 2:00 PM EDT Updated Moments Ago


The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released its decision on interest rates.

This is breaking news. Please check back here for updates.
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Fed keeps rates steady as it notes 'lack of further progress' on inflation (Original Post) BumRushDaShow May 1 OP
"incremental easing" to support stagflation, 1970s Fed mistakes repeat bucolic_frolic May 1 #1
Do you remember how Volcker defeated stagflation? IronLionZion May 1 #3
Fed holds interest rates at 23-year high, citing 'lack of further progress' on inflation, Yahoo Finance, 5/1/24 progree May 1 #2

bucolic_frolic

(43,626 posts)
1. "incremental easing" to support stagflation, 1970s Fed mistakes repeat
Wed May 1, 2024, 02:19 PM
May 1

Economists make better Fed chairman unless they're Supply Side wackos.

IronLionZion

(45,713 posts)
3. Do you remember how Volcker defeated stagflation?
Wed May 1, 2024, 04:25 PM
May 1

nobody wants 20% interest rates. Whoever is in the white house (Carter at the time) is guaranteed to be thrown out.

progree

(10,968 posts)
2. Fed holds interest rates at 23-year high, citing 'lack of further progress' on inflation, Yahoo Finance, 5/1/24
Wed May 1, 2024, 04:08 PM
May 1

Just another article FWIW

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fed-holds-interest-rates-at-23-year-high-citing-lack-of-further-progress-on-inflation-180139536.html
with GRAPH: Fed Funds Rate
with GRAPH: Year-Over-Year CPI and CORE CPI

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and reiterated plans to hold rates steady, noting there has been a lack of further progress on inflation returning to its 2% target.

But Fed Chair Jay Powell soothed markets by making it clear in a press conference Wednesday afternoon that "it is unlikely the next policy move will be a hike."

In a policy statement, Fed officials said, "In recent months, there has been a lack of further progress towards the committee’s 2% inflation objective." Officials reiterated more clarity in the outlook for inflation returning to target will be needed before cutting rates.
...
Beginning June 1, the Fed will slow the pace of Treasurys rolling off its balance sheet on a monthly basis to $25 billion from $60 billion and maintain the cap on mortgage-backed securities rolling off at $35 billion a month. The central bank will reinvest any principal payments in excess of this cap into Treasury securities.
...

(blah blah on the year-over-year changes -Progree)

...

The three-month annualized reading on core PCE jumped to 4.4%, more than double the Fed's target.
...


Graphs of the 3 inflation measures -- PCE, CPI, and PPI -- both the regular and core versions of each are at:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143231474#post1

The INFLATION-ADJUSTED Employment Cost Index (ECI) one that came out yesterday (April 30) is at:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143233798#post3

The ECI is considered the best measure of worker compensation (wages/salary and benefits separately and combined) as the above post details. The main takeaway is that it is unfortunately the INFLATION ADJUSTED ECI is still a bit below (0.8% below) the pre-pandemic level, but it has been rising for 6 quarters now.

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