For investors, further tightening is ahead; however, a data-dependent committee suggests an increase in the federal funds rate to above 3.5% in this cycle is now less likely.
Jordan Jackson
Global Market Strategist
Hi, my name is Jordan Jackson, global market strategist here at JP Morgan Asset Management. Welcome to On the Minds of Investors. Today's post asked the question, "Has the Fed shifted more or less hawkish?" The federal open market committee voted to raise the federal funds rate by 0.75 percentage points to a range of two and a quarter to two and a half percent. This was the second consecutive increase of this size and the fourth hike this cycle and the Fed signaled ongoing increases would be appropriate at coming meetings. As evidenced by the June FOMC median dot plot and recent Fed speak, the committee still appears on track to raise rates to a range of three and a quarter to three and a half percent by the end of the year.
However, this does imply less dramatic increases in the next three FOMC meetings than in the last two. Moreover, further increases beyond that point may conflict with inflation and labor market dynamics, which currently signal the need for a more cautious approach into next year. There were some notable changes to the statement language relative to the June statement. First on growth, the statement opened by highlighting the recent softening in spending and production, likely reflecting a downward trend in real retail sales and incomes and the recent cooling in US PMI data with a July flash composite PMI registering below 50 signaling contraction.
Second, the statement removed language that rolling lockdowns in China were exacerbating supply chain issues suggesting easing supply chains could help alleviate supply driven inflationary pressures. The statement could be perceived as somewhat less hawkish. The recent softening and real consumption in PMI data, the modest uptick in initial jobless claims and the slowdown in the housing market suggest rate hikes are impacting demand in the economy. Moreover, the downward trend in the Fed's global supply chain pressure index and the recent falling commodity prices suggest supply chain issues are easing.
Altogether, there is scope for the fed to be less aggressive with rate increases later this year. The press conference commentary was balanced. Chairman Powell highlighted that similarly large rate increases could be appropriate if inflation does not recede while also acknowledging that it could be appropriate to slow the pace of rate increases later this year if inflation falls and economic activity continues to cool further. However, the chair made clear the committee is willing and is hoping for enough cooling in the economy, I.e. a modest uptick in the unemployment rate to create enough slack in the economy to bring inflation back down.
A current laser focus on killing inflation suggests there remains a risk that the fed raises rates too far to achieve this outcome. That said, we now believe ongoing increases suggest the Fed will hike rates by 50 basis points in September, 25 basis points in November and 25 basis points in December. While bond yields and stocks were relatively unchanged following the release of the statement, stocks bounced and yields fell with the curve flattening during the chair's press conference. Markets seemed to appreciate a potentially less aggressive Fed with the nominal two year treasury yields falling below 3%. For investors further tightening is ahead. However, a data dependent committee suggests an increase in the federal funds rate to above 3.5% in this cycle is now less likely.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to raise the Federal funds rate by 0.75% to a range of 2.25%-2.50%. This was the second consecutive increase of this size and the fourth hike this cycle, and the Fed signaled “ongoing increases” would be appropriate at coming meetings. As evidenced by the June FOMC median dot plot and recent Fed speak, the committee still appears on track to raise rates to a range of 3.25%-3.50% by the end of the year. However, this does imply less dramatic increases in the next three FOMC meetings than in the last two. Moreover, further increases beyond that point may conflict with inflation and labor market dynamics which currently signal the need for a more cautious approach into next year.
There were some notable changes to the statement language relative to the June statement:
- On growth, the statement opened by highlighting the recent softening in spending and production, likely reflecting the downward trend in real retail sales and incomes, and the recent cooling in U.S. PMI data with the July flash composite PMI registering below 50, signaling contraction.
- The statement removed language that rolling lockdowns in China were exacerbating supply-chain issues, suggesting easing supply chains should help alleviate supply-driven inflationary pressures.
The statement could be perceived as somewhat less hawkish. The recent softening in real consumption and PMI data, the modest uptick in initial jobless claims, and the slowdown in the housing market, suggest rate hikes are impacting demand in the economy. Moreover, the downward trend in the Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index and the recent fall in commodity prices suggests supply chain issues are easing. Altogether, there is scope for the Fed to be less aggressive with rate increases later this year.
The press conference commentary was balanced. Chairman Powell highlighted that similarly large rate increases could be appropriate if inflation does not recede, while also acknowledging that it could be appropriate to slow the pace of rate increases later this year if inflation falls and economic activity cools further. However, the Chair made clear the committee is willing, and is hoping for, enough cooling in the economy—i.e., a modest uptick in the unemployment rate—to create enough slack in the economy to bring inflation back down. A current laser focus on killing inflation suggests there remains a risk that the Fed raises rates too far to achieve this outcome.
That said, we now believe “ongoing increases” suggests the Fed will hike rates by 50bps in September, 25bp in November and 25bp in December. While bond yields and stocks were relatively unchanged following the release of the statement, stocks bounced, and yields fell with the curve flattening during the Chair’s press conference. Markets seem to appreciate a potentially less aggressive Fed with the nominal 2Y treasury yield falling below 3%. For investors, further tightening is ahead; however, a data-dependent committee suggests an increase in the federal funds rate to above 3.5% in this cycle is now less likely.
Supply chain pressures have been easing since the start of the year
Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI), monthly, standard deviations from average value
Source: FRBNY, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Harper Petersen Holding GmbH; Baltic Exchange; IHS Markit; Institute for Supply Management; Haver Analytics; Refinitiv; authors’ calculations. The GSCPI integrates a number of commonly used metrics with the aim of providing a comprehensive summary of potential supply chain disruptions. Data are as of July 27, 2022.
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