FOMC Press Conference December 15, 2021 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Chair Powell emphasizes the Federal Reserve's commitment to achieving maximum employment and price stability, highlighting strong economic activity, improving labor market conditions, and elevated inflation pressures.

Key Insights

• ❓ The Fed is committed to achieving maximum employment and price stability as mandated by Congress.
• ☠️ The Committee expects a robust economic expansion, improved labor market conditions, and declining unemployment rates.
• ⌛ Supply constraints and the pandemic continue to contribute to elevated inflation, but inflation expectations are expected to decline over time.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What criteria does the Committee use to determine if maximum employment has been achieved?

The Committee considers a range of indicators, including the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate, job openings, wages, and demographic groups' employment disparities.

Q: How does the Fed plan to address the current inflation problem?

The Fed intends to continue monitoring economic developments and adjusting monetary policy as necessary to prevent higher inflation from becoming entrenched. It anticipates inflation to decline to levels closer to the target goal as supply and demand imbalances resolve.

Q: Are you concerned about the potential impact of the Omicron variant on the economy?

Chair Powell acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the Omicron variant's impact on the economy. While the situation is closely monitored, he emphasizes that the strong economy is well-positioned to handle any challenges, and the Fed will use its tools to support the economy if necessary.

Q: How will the Fed navigate monetary policy adjustments considering varying predictions about growth and inflation?

The Fed will assess the evolving economic outlook and make policy decisions accordingly. While the median forecast suggests rate increases next year, the actual rate decisions depend on the Committee's assessment of achieving maximum employment and price stability.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Chair Powell reaffirms the Federal Reserve's commitment to achieving maximum employment and price stability, stating that economic activity is on track to expand at a robust pace this year.

• Despite the rise in COVID-19 cases and supply constraints, FOMC participants project rapid economic growth.

• Job gains have been solid, and the unemployment rate has declined substantially, with improvements seen across different demographic groups.

• Supply and demand imbalances due to the pandemic continue to contribute to elevated levels of inflation, but forecasters expect inflation to decline toward the target goal by the end of next year.