All signs are pointing to a rise in U.S. inflation, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said on Wednesday, but though the economy may boom later this year, it's too early to say when the Fed could take any steps to pull back on its super-easy policy.
Despite optimism over vaccines and the likelihood of more fiscal stimulus under the incoming Biden administration, the Federal Reserve is sticking with its super-easy monetary policy, policymakers made clear on Wednesday.
U.S. economic activity increased modestly in recent weeks and a growing number of the Federal Reserve's districts saw a drop in employment as a surge in coronavirus cases led to more shutdowns of businesses, the U.S. central bank said on Wednesday.
The U.S. government posted a December budget deficit of $144 billion - a record for the month - due to far higher outlays with coronavirus relief spending and unemployment benefits, while revenues ticked slightly higher, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarida on Wednesday reiterated that the U.S. central bank won't raise interest rates until inflation reaches 2%, and he expressed confidence that market participants believe in that promise, a key element in the Fed's strategy.