FOMC minutes: Indicators of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed, on balance

The minutes from the Federal Reserve’s July 31-August 1 monetary policy meeting have been published, with key highlights found below.
Key highlights (via Reuters)
- Labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been rising at a strong rate.
- Escalating trade tensions between China and the United States prompted notable market moves, particularly in foreign exchange markets.
- News on an agreement between the United States and the European Union to continue talks to resolve their trade disputes provided some support for global equity prices.
- Indicators of longer-term inflation expectations are little changed, on balance.
- Trade policies could move in a direction that would have significant negative effects on economic growth.
- Participants observed that if a large-scale and prolonged dispute over trade policies developed, there would likely be adverse effects on business sentiment, investment spending, and employment.
- Further gradual increases in the target range for the federal funds rate will be consistent with the sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation objective.
- Risks to the economic outlook appear roughly balanced.
- The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting strong labor market conditions and a sustained return to 2 percent inflation.
Author

Eren Sengezer
FXStreet
As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

















