Analysis of Rate Cuts, Inflation Trends, and Political Implications

Perhaps Federal Reserve Chair Powell has opened an economics book (possibly “How the world really works—the economy”). Powell told the Senate banking committee that cutting rates too early would be bad, but cutting rates too late would also be bad. Unfortunately, the Fed Chair insisted that more “good data” was required to induce a rate cut. With inflation down over eight percentage points in less than two years, real rates soaring, and deflation peppering sectors of the US, it is starting to look like rate cuts are too late.