The U.S. economy needs all the help it can get in this recovery, but the Federal Reserve has expressed frustration at the inability of Capitol Hill and the White House to do more.
When Fed Chairman Jay Powell fields questions at the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee’s meeting on Wednesday, will he show signs of fatigue in asking for more fiscal support? Or will he push harder for more help?
Powell’s tone could offer clues into the Fed’s next steps.
“The Fed can’t generate demand,” ING’s James Knightley wrote September 12. “For that we will need to see additional fiscal stimulus, but that is looking only a remote possibility ahead of the November 3rd elections.”
getting a deal done “doesn’t look that good right now.” ” data-reactid=”24″>Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the possibility of getting a deal done “doesn’t look that good right now.”
bonus unemployment insurance appear to have helped Americans stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis, but critical portions of the support have since expired.” data-reactid=”25″>Almost six months have lapsed with no follow-up to the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. CARES Act provisions like bonus unemployment insurance appear to have helped Americans stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis, but critical portions of the support have since expired.
elevated 8.4%.
backed up to near-zero interest rates and has no intention to dip into negative territory. The central bank has relied heavily on its armory of liquidity facilities to keep liquidity flowing in markets ranging from corporate debt to municipal bonds.
Of course, the Fed has hinted it still has some tricks up its sleeve, such as more actively strategizing its asset purchases under quantitative easing. But Morgan Stanley wrote Sept. 15 that the Fed is playing a “waiting game” with a potential relief package.
“On the immediate horizon is the risk of no further support from Congress, something we expect Chair Powell to spend time on in the press conference,” said Morgan Stanley’s economics and global macro team.
last policy-setting meeting on July 29. Underscoring their concern over the lack of fiscal relief, the 16 officials emphasized the importance of more support.
Here’s what they said:
NPR interview, September 4)” data-reactid=”44″>Fed Chairman Jerome Powell: “The people who worked in those service jobs, particularly the entry-level, lower paid workers, they’re the ones who are most vulnerable. And those are the ones who we really need to look out for both through Fed policy, which will be there to support the economy — but also through fiscal policy.” (NPR interview, September 4)
Peterson Institute, August 31)” data-reactid=”45″>Fed Vice Chairman Richard Clarida: “Fiscal policy is really an input to the way that we think about policy.” (Remarks at Peterson Institute, August 31)
Brookings Institution, September 1)” data-reactid=”47″>Fed Governor Lael Brainard: “It is very important to many households and businesses to have continued fiscal support — just as it was important to them in the early phase of this crisis.” (Remarks at Brookings Institution, September 1)
Kansas Bankers Association, August 26)” data-reactid=”48″>Fed Governor Michelle Bowman: “Timely and supportive fiscal and monetary policy measures also have helped, but with the progress of the recovery still tentative, I expect that many businesses will continue to fight for survival in the months ahead, with the support of their lenders and communities. (Remarks at Kansas Bankers Association, August 26)
Marketplace interview, August 18)” data-reactid=”49″>Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren: “We’re still in a position where we could use significant fiscal policy until the pandemic’s under control.” (Marketplace interview, August 18)
Bretton Woods Committee, September 2)” data-reactid=”54″>New York Fed President John Williams: “Getting money into households’ pockets, allowing families to keep putting food on their tables, pay the rent, the [Paycheck Protection Program], and other efforts have been hugely helpful through the last several months to minimize some of the economic consequences of the pandemic.” (Remarks at Bretton Woods Committee, September 2)
Fox Business interview, August 28)
Yahoo Finance interview, August 28)
WSJ interview, September 3)” data-reactid=”58″>Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic: “The fiscal side, you know, the policies were designed a little differently, and they really did time-bound it…For me, I talk to businesses. I talk to folks out in the community. There is still need out there.” (WSJ interview, September 3)
Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, September 3)” data-reactid=”59″>Chicago Fed President Charles Evans: “Partisan politics threatens to endanger additional fiscal relief. A lack of action or an inadequate one presents a very significant downside risk to the economy today.” (Remarks at Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, September 3)
St. Louis Fed’s Memphis branch, August 3)” data-reactid=”60″>St. Louis Fed President Jim Bullard: “The increased persistence of the disease means that the key fiscal policy keeping businesses and people whole has to be continued longer than would have been initially thought.” (Remarks at St. Louis Fed’s Memphis branch, August 3)
CBS interview, August 2)” data-reactid=”61″>Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari: “Congress should use this opportunity to support the American people and the American economy.” (CBS interview, August 2)
Yahoo Finance interview, August 25)
Bloomberg interview, August 3)” data-reactid=”63″>Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan: “It’s still my view that in some form we’ll get an extension of unemployment benefits and so I’m quite hopeful that will continue, but if it did not you would see a further weakening in the economy.” (Bloomberg interview, August 3)
Harvard Kennedy School, September 2)” data-reactid=”64″>San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly: “We have to build a bridge to help shore people up so that when we emerge from the crisis, we are well-prepared to continue to grow.” (Remarks at Harvard Kennedy School, September 2)
@bcheungz.” data-reactid=”65″>Brian Cheung is a reporter covering the Fed, economics, and banking for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter @bcheungz.
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