← Latest briefing

Business & Finance

Fed's Hammack says tighter policy may be needed to curb inflation

CNBC reports Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said tighter policy may be needed as persistent inflation risks becoming entrenched in the economy.

The short version

  • CNBC reports Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said tighter monetary policy may be needed to bring inflation down.[CNBC]
  • Hammack prefers smaller, quicker policy adjustments and called a restrictive stance appropriate for a timely return to 2% inflation.[CNBC]
  • She warned that persistent inflation raises the risk of an inflationary mindset becoming entrenched and expects progress toward 2% to take time.[CNBC]
  • Next unknown: September minutes signaled possible rate hikes without timing, while traders priced a likely hold at this month's meeting.[CNBC]

Key facts

  • Hammack said tighter monetary policy might be needed to bring inflation down and that the Fed should make fast, incremental adjustments.[CNBC]
  • Hammack said a restrictive monetary policy stance is appropriate to ensure a timely return to 2% inflation.[CNBC]
  • The personal consumption expenditures price index was 3.4% year over year in August.[CNBC]
  • The core PCE price index, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, was 3% compared with a year earlier.[CNBC]
  • Fed officials signaled in September meeting minutes that they could vote to raise rates again but gave no clear timing.[CNBC]
  • Traders priced a more than 78% likelihood that the Fed keeps rates unchanged at its meeting later this month, according to CME's FedWatch tool.[CNBC]

What remains uncertain

  • The timing of any further rate increase remains unclear, since September minutes gave no clear indication of when such a decision could come.[CNBC]
  • Hammack expects it will take some time to return to 2% inflation, but the reporting gives no timeline for that return.[CNBC]
  • Market probabilities are CME FedWatch estimates that could shift before the policy meeting.[CNBC]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.