Is the Fed Pausing Rate Hikes?
Fed speakers made headlines with hints about their next move on rate hikes. Plus, another report shows the strength in home values. Read on for these stories and more.
Is the Fed Planning to Pause Rate Hikes?
New High in Home Price Appreciation
Holiday Impact on Unemployment Filings
Is the Fed Planning to Pause Rate Hikes
There was a parade of Fed speakers last week and there were signs that the Fed may be ready to pause rate hikes at their upcoming meeting on September 20. Comments from voting members were particularly noteworthy, including New York President John Williams, who said he believes monetary policy is in “a good place” and “having the desired effect.” While he thinks the Fed needs to keep their options open based on incoming data, his tone suggested he favors pausing hikes this month.
Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan also said skipping a hike this month “could be appropriate,” though she noted more tightening may still be needed for inflation to reach their 2% target. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker has also said that the Fed may be at a point to “hold rates steady.”
Remember, the Fed has been hiking its benchmark Fed Funds Rate (which is the overnight borrowing rate for banks) to try to slow the economy and curb inflation. Their latest hike in July was the eleventh since March of last year, pushing the Fed Funds Rate to the highest level in 22 years.
What’s the bottom line? The Fed has been looking for clear signs that the labor market is softening as they consider further rate hikes. While job growth has appeared strong in recent reports, a closer look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows a clear downtrend in job growth.
Not only has monthly job growth slowed, but negative revisions are growing as well. Most recently, for example, job creations in June were revised from the originally reported 209,000 all the way down to 105,000 after two months of revisions. In addition, the unemployment rate has moved higher from the low of 3.4% in April to 3.8% last month.
Are these signs of weakness enough to convince the Fed to pause rate hikes? This week’s inflation data will also play a role in their decision, which will be announced after the Fed’s meeting concludes next Wednesday, September 20.
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