Win McNamee/Getty Images News
By Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D.
On the heels of a surprise 50-basis-point increase in the ECB’s target rate — despite evidence of a slowing of economic activity — the FOMC will likely make good on another 75-basis-point increase in its target federal funds range. Governor Waller gave a very specific speech on July 14th at the Rocky Mountain Economic Summit in which he detailed a puzzling set of economic developments, in that we have had not only a very strong labor market, with nearly twice the number of job vacancies as unemployed people and low unemployment, but also what appears to be a slowing economy. Governor Waller stated that he favored another 75-basis-point increase, as has St Louis Fed President James Bullard, who is a voting member of the FOMC this year.
The slowdown in economic activity is supported by a number of pieces of evidence. The most recent Purchasing Managers’ Index showed a decline, the first since June 2020, in both the services sector and manufacturing. New orders were up modestly after a decline in June. Perhaps equally revealing and relevant to the FOMC is the Beige Book, which was prepared during the first week in July, covering mainly the month of June. Eight of the 12 districts reported only modest growth, which means slightly under 2% in Fed speak. Only New York reported that growth had “slowed to a crawl.” The remaining districts reported that growth had declined slightly. A common theme across all twelve districts was the slowing and softening of residential and commercial real estate as higher interest and mortgage rates started to have the expected impact. Virtually all districts noted a softening in both manufacturing and retail sales, with notable exceptions being the Atlanta and St. Louis districts, where manufacturing and consumer spending remained steady or increased.
Overall, the FOMC goes into this meeting with no signs of a recession, substantially higher-than-desired inflation and no signs that it is slowing, a moderating construction sector, and continued strength in labor markets. These factors all fit with the view that the Committee will raise rates another 75 basis points, and then Chair Powell will probably make the case that further moves will be data-dependent.
Editor’s Note: The summary bullets for this article were chosen by Seeking Alpha editors.
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