Did the Federal Reserve cut interest rates too early? All the leading indicators – whether the headline inflation data or the fine points in monthly reports – suggest the Eccles Building kicked off the easing cycle too prematurely. Of course, the Fed will do what it does best: shift the goalposts and use other inflation metrics to support the case for loosening monetary policy conditions.
Federal Reserve Digests the Data
The December Summary of Economic Projections, a quarterly survey of Federal Reserve officials and their views on the economy and policy, revealed a hawkish stance at the US central bank. While they have cut interest rates a full percent since September, policymakers will mostly sit on their hands this year. In 2025, the Fed is expected to pull the trigger on two quarter-point interest rate cuts, down from the initial estimate of two…