Yellen To Congress: Slowing Inflation Won’t Delay Plans To Tighten Monetary Policy

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen told Congress officials are on track to continue tightening monetary policy through gradual rate hikes and by shrinking the Fed's $4.5 trillion balance sheet.

Janet Yellen, Federal Reserve, the Fed, interest rates
Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen

The economy remains strong thanks to robust job gains and continued record-low unemployment. Yellen told members of the Senate Banking Committee Thursday that slowing inflation, which continues to fall short of the Fed's 2% goal, will likely be temporary because the price of imported goods is expected to rise, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The Fed is penciling in one more interest rate hike for the year, which economists overwhelmingly predict will occur in December. That would be the Fed’s fourth move in a 12-month period. In June, central bankers increased short-term rates by a quarter point to a range of 1% to 1.25%.

Federal Reserve officials signaled plans to begin scaling back the central bank’s massive bond portfolio starting in September, June minutes indicate, though an official timeline has yet to be confirmed.

With the economy now in its eighth year of economic expansion, there is less need for such an aggressive quantitative easing program. Yellen said during her speech that though a volatile shock could curb that positive expansion, she does not see anything damning on the horizon.

“I don’t see anything inherent in the nature of the expansion that suggests it will come to an end anytime soon,” Yellen said.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's National Newsletters
Related Stories

Why Hines Is Restarting Its Development Engine

How Integrated Infrastructure Can Help AI Data Centers Deploy Faster, Build Smarter

Nvidia Buys Stake In Data Center Power Company

Invesco Cuts Fees, Adds Incentives To Quell Fund Redemption Requests

Investors Anchor Big Capital Into Marinas, Betting On Shallow Supply

Nike Closes 15 Stores Amid Tumultuous Year

Large Commercial Real Estate Sales Up 30% Despite Economic Headwinds

Evergrande Founder Sentenced To Life, 56 Others Sent To Prison In China

Loud And Clear: Why Aiphone Thinks Intercom Ownership Is Best For Multitenant Buildings

The Fast-Food Exec Taking Her Real Estate Talents To The Looksmaxxing Era

Republicans, Democrats Backing Away From Data Centers Amid Rising Backlash

TJ Maxx Parent Plans To Accelerate Store Openings In 2027