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Fed's Bostic (2024 voter) says there is "still a ways to go" on inflation even though the Fed has made tremendous progress; expects inflation to come down slowly and unevenly

Important
SourceNewsquawk
SectionFed
  • Pandemic policies left families and businesses in much stronger position; able to absorb restrictive policy.
  • Expects tight labour market to continue moving forward.
  • Paying a lot of attention to three and six-month inflation figures, they are coming down.
  • Wages have been a trailing indicator and a way to retain workers.
  • Do have to keep an eye out to ensure output does not become too weak.
  • Businesses and employers still see economy as strong, with robust demand.
  • Fed is in a good place with a pathway to fixing inflation without much labour pain.
  • Businesses increasingly saying they do not have the same pricing power as early in the pandemic.
  • Fed is not going to jump at the first data point.
  • Policy will need to be resolute and patient.
  • Sentiment about the economy may become more positive if wage gains continue to outpace inflation; eases the "sticker shock" of inflation.
  • Market's response to the Fed has been "interesting", will have to watch how it plays out.
  • Budgetary trade-offs will become "more acute" due to higher debt servicing costs.
  • Now is not the time to consider changing the inflation goal, but nothing should be etched in stone.
  • No one should think 2% is the only number the Fed could have for inflation, but will keep it until price stability is restored.
  • Fed cannot wait to get to 2% inflation to cut rates or it will "overshoot", that is the strategy behind rate cuts.
  • Reiterates view of two rate cuts in 2024.
  • There "is not going to be urgency" to back away from restrictive policy stance.
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