What to Watch at the Fed Meeting
A man walks by the Federal Reserve building in Washington. Recent statements from Fed officials suggest a range of views that could make it difficult for Chairwoman Janet Yellen to keep everybody on board. ENLARGE
A man walks by the Federal Reserve building in Washington. Recent statements from Fed officials suggest a range of views that could make it difficult for Chairwoman Janet Yellen to keep everybody on board. Photo: Tom Williams/Congressional Quarterly/Newscom/Zuma Press
By
David Harrison
Sept. 20, 2016 3:35 p.m. ET
The Federal Reserve isn’t likely to raise short-term interest rates at its policy meeting this week, but could send signals about where borrowing costs are headed in the months and years ahead. The central bank is scheduled to release its policy statement and updated summary of economic projections at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Chairwoman Janet Yellen holds her press conference at 2:30 p.m. EDT. Here are five things to watch for.
1. A December Signal?
Fed officials have been split in recent weeks, with some such as Boston’s Eric Rosengren and San Francisco’s John Williams arguing another increase is appropriate, while others such as governor Lael Brainard pointing to sluggish inflation as reason to hold off. Ms. Yellen could forge a compromise by holding rates steady this week but using the statement or her press conference to raise expectations for a move later this year, likely in December.
2. The Path Forward?
In December 2015, Fed officials’ median projection anticipated raising interest rates by a full percentage point in 2016, likely in four moves. By March, that projection had been cut to a half-point increase, likely in two moves. Wednesday’s release is likely to pare expectations further, perhaps to a single quarter-percentage-point increase this year. Keep an eye out also for the Fed’s expected end point for interest rates. In December, officials thought their benchmark federal-funds rate would eventually rise to 3.5%. Their June summary lowered that to 3%. It could drop further still this week if officials adjust their expectations amid persistently slow economic growth and inflation.
3. What’s the Risk?
This year has been bumpy for the world economy because of concerns over China’s slowdown and the U.K.’s vote to leave the European Union. In the U.S., worries about slow first-half growth, stubbornly low inflation and a few disappointing job reports have led Fed officials to hold their fire and brace for a shock. Those worries appear to have eased as both the U.S. and the world now seem on more stable footing. That could lead the Fed to say in its statement that the risks to its outlook are balanced or nearly balanced—meaning the economy could just as easily be stronger or weaker than forecast. A balanced risk outlook could suggest the Fed is more comfortable with the state of the economy and more willing to consider a rate increase soon.
4. Where’s Full Employment?
At 4.9%, the jobless rate is within the Fed’s estimated range of between 4.7% and 5% for full employment, the rate below which inflation should start to rise. That means the labor market is close to full strength and any further drop in unemployment is likely to push up inflation and risks overheating the economy. So why has inflation been so elusive? And why have wage increases been so modest for much of the expansion? Some Fed officials, including Ms. Yellen, believe inflation and wage increases are on the way. Others, such as Ms. Brainard, think widespread economic changes have pushed the full employment rate lower than in the pat, which means the Fed still needs to stimulate the economy with low interest rates. Look for signs of any shift in officials’ thinking in their projections of long-term unemployment.
5. Dissents?
Fed officials like to show a united front on rate decisions. This year, only Kansas City Fed President Esther George has cast a dissenting vote at policy meetings. That could change. Recent statements from officials suggest a range of views that could make it difficult for Ms. Yellen to keep everybody on board. A statement that sounds too willing to raise rates in the near future could lose the support of the so-called “doves,” whereas one that makes future rate increases less likely could cause other “hawks” to join Ms. George in voting against it.
Write to David Harrison at
david.harrison@wsj.com