31/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 31/07/2024 17:24
Economic experts across the political spectrum and economic data make clear that federal funds rate need to be cut
"The failure to (cut rates) would indicate that the Fed is giving in to bullying, and is putting political considerations ahead of its dual mandate to 'promote maximum employment and stable prices.'"
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote to the Chair of the Federal Reserve Board (Fed), Jerome Powell, urging a cut to interest rates at this week's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, in light of economic data showing that inflation is decreasing and is very close to the Fed's target. If the Fed fails to cut rates at this week's meeting, the country will not see lower rates until at least September.
In recent weeks, Republican members of Congress have threatened the independence of the Fed, suggesting that the Fed cutting rates before the 2024 election would be "viewed as political." However, economic data suggests that the federal funds rate should already be lower than it is now. In fact, economic experts across the political spectrum are now calling for the Federal Reserve to act. The members urged the Fed to resist partisan bullying and warned against 'putting political considerations ahead of its dual mandate to "promote maximum employment and stable prices."
The personal consumption expenditures (PEC) index, a key gauge for inflation, decreased for the third consecutive month in June, making a strong case for rate cuts. Additionally, while the labor market is healthy and inflation is declining, the unemployment rate increased from 3.6 percent to 4.1 percent over the last year and job openings are down 20 percent. The Wall Street Journal's chief economics commentator argues that the unemployment rate increase may be indicative of a trend because when unemployment ticks upwards, "it tends to keep going up." While wage growth remains strong, it has slowed in recent months, and surveys of companies' pay plans indicate that it is likely to continue slowing into next year. Without rate cuts, the Fed risks erasing the country's post-pandemic economic gains.
The federal funds rate has stayed in the 5.25-5.5 percent range for a year, its highest level in more than 20 years. Households are feeling the pressure of high rates-particularly on their credit cards and auto loans. Forcing American families to wait until the Fed's September meeting for rate cuts will only exacerbate the economic pressures on families.
And it's not just families feeling the pressure. Atlanta Fed President and FOMC member Raphael Bostic said that consumers in his region are "at (their) limit" and cannot shoulder the burden of high interest rates for much longer. Another key Wall Street analyst made the case clearly: "Waiting too long risks a higher peak in unemployment for little additional reward on the inflation front."
The lawmakers are calling for the Fed to resist partisan politics and follow the data. Economists and monetary policy guidelines are suggesting the rate should already have been cut and need to be cut at the July FOMC meeting. .
Senator Warren has been ringing the alarm bells about the serious dangers of Chair Powell's continued interest rate hikes:
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