Atlanta Fed Pres. Bostic: Cuts not imminent but see two 1/4 point cuts in 2024

<p>Atlanta Fed Pres. Bostic is on wires say:</p><ul><li>Rate cuts are not seen as imminent, but preparations for possible principles and thresholds to guide the process are underway.</li><li>Anticipation of two quarter-percentage-point interest rate cuts in 2024, with the first possibly in the third quarter, contingent on continued progress on inflation.</li><li>2024 GDP growth is projected at just over 1%, with unemployment at 4% by the end of next year, and PCE inflation at 2.4%.</li><li>There is a general consensus among Fed officials that the policy rate is at a peak, conditional on continued progress in inflation.</li><li>The US economy is still far from the Fed's 2% inflation target, though progress is being made faster than expected.</li><li>Determining the appropriate 'neighborhood' for inflation that would warrant rate reductions is crucial, as data is getting closer to this point.</li><li>Inflation over 3- and 6-month horizons will serve as significant markers in upcoming discussions.</li><li>Despite recent positive signs, the strength of the economy may still hinder progress on inflation, emphasizing the need for cautious policy reactions.</li><li>The Fed has been frequently surprised throughout the coronavirus pandemic, underscoring the importance of flexibility in policymaking.</li><li>It is expected to take several months for the Fed to gather enough confidence in the continuing decline of inflation to consider reducing rates.</li><li>The risk of a new inflation spike has significantly decreased.</li><li>Business contacts do not foresee large job losses in the near future, but the Fed remains attentive to any changes.</li><li>The risks in the economy are now seen as fairly balanced.</li></ul><p>There was a lot of chatter given to the idea that the 6 month core CPI hit 2.9% (annualized) after the last report. It is not 2.0% but has a 2% handle. It will still need more work. If core-CPI comes in at 0.2%, that is 2.4% not compounded. The last time CPI core rose 0.1% on a MoM basis was back September 2021. </p>

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.