Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy Enterprise Risk Management Symposium Chicago, IL September 3, 214 Spencer Krane Senior Vice President Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago The views expressed here are my own and not those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago or the Federal Reserve System.
Federal Reserve s Mandate Promote maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates 1 Price stability 2 2 percent inflation in price index for total personal consumption expenditures (PCE) Maximum employment 2 May change over time for non-monetary reasons Current FOMC forecasts for long-run normal unemployment rate: 5.2-5.5 percent 1. Federal Reserve Act Section 2a (monetary policy objectives) 2. Statement on Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy
Labor Market Private Nonfarm Payroll Employment (change, thousands) Unemployment Rate (percent) 5 Monthly change 12 Aug-214 9 Unemployment Rate (percent of labor force) Aug-214-5 6 3-month average FOMC Long-run central tendency -1, 25 '7 '9 '11 '13 3 21 '4 '7 '1 '13 '15 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Haver Analytics, and Sep. 17, 214 FOMC Summary of Economic Projections.
Multiple Indicators Labor Market Dashboard Substantial Progress Payroll employment Unemployment rate Job loss (unemployment insurance claims, layoff rates) Job openings Point to Extra Slack Labor force participation Long-term unemployed Part time for economic reasons Hiring rate Quit rate Job finding rate Wage growth
Labor Force Participation Rate Labor Force Participation Rate (percent) 68 Participation Rate (percent of population 16 and over) 66 Trend Participation Rate Aug-214 64 62 21 '3 '5 '7 '9 '11 '13 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Haver Analytics, and Aaronson, Hu, Seifoddini, and Sullivan (214).
Spending Outlook Consumption expanding at solid, but unspectacular, pace Strong orders for business capital goods Single-family housing slow to recover Government sector relatively neutral
FOMC Economic Forecasts 1 214 215 216 217 Long-run 4 GDP 2 2.1 2.8 2.75 2.4 2.15 Unemployment rate 3 5.95 5.5 5.25 5.1 5.35 PCE inflation 2 1.6 1.75 1.85 1.95 2. 1. Midpoint of central tendency of Sep. 17, 214 FOMC Summary of Economic Projections 2. Fourth quarter to fourth quarter percent change 3. Quarter average for end of period 4. Assessment of rate to which each variable expected to converge under appropriate monetary policy and in the absence of further shocks to the economy
Inflation PCE Price Index (12-month percent change) 5 4 Total 3 2 FOMC Long-run Target 1 Core Aug-214 FOMC Projections* -1-2 1999 '2 '5 '8 '11 '14 '17 Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Haver Analytics, and Sep. 17, 214 FOMC Summary of Economic Projections.
Little Cost Pressure Commodity Prices (dollars; index, 1967 = 1) Wages and Compensation (percent change from previous year) 17 CRB Commodity Prices 625 6 12 5 4 3.5% = 2% inflation + 1.5% productivity growth 26-Sep-214 Q2-214 7 375 2 Brent Crude Oil 2 25 '7 '9 '1 '12 25 Average Hourly Earnings Employment Cost Index 2 '2 '4 '6 '8 '1 '12 '14 '16 Source: Financial Times, Commodity Research Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Haver Analytics.
Policy Rate Constrained by Zero Lower Bound Federal funds rate, r t (percent) 8 6 4 2 History Q2-214 -2-4 -6 1999 '1 '3 '5 '7 '9 '11 '13 Source: Federal Reserve and Haver Analytics.
Policy Rate Constrained by Zero Lower Bound Federal funds rate, r t (percent) 8 Taylor Rule (1999): r t = 2 + π t + 1 2 π t π + y t y π t = inflation; π = inflation target y t = actual output; y* = potential output 6 4 Taylor Rule; CBO output gap 2 History Q2-214 -2-4 -6 1999 '1 '3 '5 '7 '9 '11 '13 Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Congressional Budget Office, FOMC Summary of Economic Projections, and Haver Analytics. Prior to explicit inflation target set by FOMC, the Taylor Rule based on long-run inflation forecasts from the Survey of Professional Forecasters, or when available, from the Summary of Economic Projections. After 212, Taylor Rule based on 2 percent long-run inflation target.
Policy Tools at the Zero Lower Bound Two ways to provide additional accommodation at the ZLB; both work by lowering longer-term interest rates Large Scale Asset Purchases (LSAPs) Lower term premia in long term rates Signaling effect about future short term rates Latest program most likely to end in October Forward guidance about path for the federal funds rate
Appropriate Pace of Policy Firming Federal Funds Rate at Year-End (percent) 5 4 3 2 1 214 215 216 217 Long-run Source: Sep. 17, 214 FOMC Summary of Economic Projections and Haver Analytics.
Appropriate Pace of Policy Firming In determining Federal Funds how Rate long at to Year-End maintain the current to 1/4 (percent) percent target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess 5 progress--both realized and expected toward its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation. 4 3 2 1 214 215 216 217 Long-run Source: Sep. 17, 214 FOMC Summary of Economic Projections and Haver Analytics.
Appropriate Pace of Policy Firming In determining Federal Funds how Rate long at to Year-End maintain the current to 1/4 (percent) percent target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will assess 5 progress--both realized and expected toward its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation. 4 3 2 1 When the Committee decides to begin to remove policy accommodation, it will take a balanced approach consistent with its longer-run goals of maximum employment and inflation of 2 percent. 214 215 216 217 Long-run Source: Sep. 17, 214 FOMC Summary of Economic Projections and Haver Analytics.
Appropriate Pace of Policy Firming Federal Funds Rate at Year-End (percent) 5 4 3 March liftoff, 25 bps every meeting 2 1 Market Expectations as of September 26 June liftoff, 25 bps every other meeting 214 215 216 217 Long-run Source: Sep. 17, 214 FOMC Summary of Economic Projections, Federal Reserve Board, and Haver Analytics.
Monetary Policy Normalization FOMC will determine timing and pace of increases in rates so as to promote maximum employment and price stability Federal funds rate will continue to be the key policy rate Target a 25bp range initially, instead of a single number Interest paid on excess reserves primary tool to raise rates Overnight Reverse Repo Facility to play temporary supporting role to help provide control over federal funds rate Reduce the size of the balances sheet gradually and predictably Reduce reinvestments sometime after the first rate hike In the long-run, the balance sheet at smallest level for efficient implementation of monetary policy