Federal Chairman Jerome Powell on 0.25% interest rate cuts

Overview

  • Outlook for the US economy is favorable but
    • core inflation is only at 1.6% instead of 2%
    • cutting interest rate by 0.25% from 2.5% to 2.25%
  • insurance against downside risk
    • global growth is slowing
    • trade policy tension is a new stimulus to the equation and it is a concern
  • key objectives
    • strong job economy
    • 2% inflation rate
  • adopt an iterative approach by observing how economy reacts to policy changes

Key areas of concern

global growth slow down

  • US core inflation rate is at 1.6% – excludes food and energy inflation which are cyclical
    • US GDP sustained
  • US manufacturing declined in 2019Q1 and 2019Q2
  • US business fixed investment slowed in 2019Q1 and fell in 2019Q2
    • companies uncertain about investment spending
    • not seeing additional demand for products
  • June US job growth slowed in 2019Q2
  • disinflation rates observed in other countries
    • manufacturing in rural China and the EU are slowing

highly leverage business sector within the US

  • Business borrowings are excessive
  • loans have moved off balance sheet of banks to market based vehicles

Positive signals of sustained US economy

  • rising household income drives confidence
  • no booming sectors observed hence no concerns for busts

Federal Reserves framework for monitoring risks

  • Excessive leverage in the Financial sector
  • Excessive asset valuations
  • Excessive debt loads in households and business
  • Funding risks that could result in sudden shortfall of liquidity

Structure of the US economy

  • US capital requirements within banks are at 2X of what is required to tide through tough times
  • Allocations
    • 70% consumer
    • 30% investments and manufacturing
      • not growing
      • remains healthy

Related references

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