MNI FedSpeak Podcasts

Tighter credit conditions due to the recent banking crisis mean the Fed doesn't have to raise interest rates as much, former Fed governor Randall Kroszner tells MNI.

The U.S. banking crisis has shifted the focus of Federal Reserve official from the threat of high inflation to the risk of a sharp credit contraction, Fed advisor and KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk tells FedSpeak. 

The U.S. economy faces a possible credit crunch because of the latest banking crisis, which could put a damper on inflation and lead to a lower peak interest rate from the Federal Reserve, ex-Fed board governor Jeremy Stein tells MNI.

Conference Board of Canada chief economist and former central bank researcher Pedro Antunes says restrictive rates will curb consumer spending and bring inflation back to 2% as the central bank predicts.

Inflation will slow enough for the Federal Reserve to pause rate hikes by summer, former Philadelphia Fed staffer and Wilmington Trust chief economist Luke Tilley told MNI.

Cleveland Fed research director Edward Knotek tells MNI inflation will come down this year but all too gradually, and inflation expectations for consumers and businesses are a "source of concern.."

Former top BIS and OECD official Bill White says investors and central banks are under-estimating the need for permanently higher interest rates as shortages of workers and materials emerge.

Bill Robson, head of the CD Howe Institute think-tank and its shadow monetary policy council, says the Bank of Canada is likely done raising interest rates this year as past tightening at home and abroad pull inflation back towards the 2% target.

It will likely take inflation many more years than central bankers and financial markets expect to close in on 2% without a deep recession, though this slower path may be optimal for Federal Reserve officials pursuing a dual mandate, Cleveland Fed economists Randal Verbrugge and Saeed Zaman say.

Stronger than desired data will prompt the FOMC to project higher rates for longer when they meet in March, ex-Atlanta Fed chief tells MNI.