Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference after a Federal Open Market Committee meeting on September 20, 2023 at the Federal Reserve in Washington, DC.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Friday pushed back on market expectations for aggressive interest rate cuts ahead, calling it too early to declare victory over inflation.
Markets showed little initial reaction to Powell's remarks, with major averages mixed on Wall Street and Treasury yields lower.
After inflation hit its highest level since the early 1980s, the Fed enacted a series of 11 interest rate hikes, taking its policy rate to the highest in 22 years at a target range between 5.25%-5.5%.
"The strong actions we have taken have moved our policy rate well into restrictive territory, meaning that tight monetary policy is putting downward pressure on economic activity and inflation," Powell said.
Persons:
Jerome Powell, Powell, Powell's
Organizations:
Federal Reserve, Federal, Spelman College, Treasury, Dow Jones, Commerce, Fed
Locations:
Washington , DC, Atlanta