MNI FedSpeak Podcast

Inflation will slow enough for the Federal Reserve to pause rate hikes by summer, former Philadelphia Fed staffer and Wilmington Trust chief economist Luke Tilley told MNI.

Cleveland Fed research director Edward Knotek tells MNI inflation will come down this year but all too gradually, and inflation expectations for consumers and businesses are a "source of concern.."

Former top BIS and OECD official Bill White says investors and central banks are under-estimating the need for permanently higher interest rates as shortages of workers and materials emerge.

Bill Robson, head of the CD Howe Institute think-tank and its shadow monetary policy council, says the Bank of Canada is likely done raising interest rates this year as past tightening at home and abroad pull inflation back towards the 2% target.

It will likely take inflation many more years than central bankers and financial markets expect to close in on 2% without a deep recession, though this slower path may be optimal for Federal Reserve officials pursuing a dual mandate, Cleveland Fed economists Randal Verbrugge and Saeed Zaman say.

Stronger than desired data will prompt the FOMC to project higher rates for longer when they meet in March, ex-Atlanta Fed chief tells MNI.

An exceptionally good January jobs report indicates an even stronger U.S. labor market than previously thought, Richmond Fed senior adviser Thomas Lubik tells MNI.

Stubborn inflation pressures could force the Federal Reserve to resume rate hikes later in the year after an expected pause in the next couple of meetings, ex-Richmond Fed economist Peter Ireland tells MNI. 

Minneapolis Fed Economist Simon Mongey tells MNI that his research on vacancies and job matching suggests worries about a large spike in unemployment are overdone.

Minneapolis Federal Reserve Research Director Andrea Raffo says inflation is still uncomfortably high but recent reports show signs of moderation. He also says that U.S. labor supply is a question mark this year, and global trade resilience argues against a new era of faster inflation.