Forward guidance. My questions are first, what are you hoping to learn, how might that change your response and third, how close is the committee to reaching a decision on a more concrete Forward Guidance and whether yield caps might reinforce that guidance . First i would say we think Monetary Policy today is wellpositioned to support the economy in this challenging time. If we didnt think that of course we would change her policy now. As you know we lowered her policy rate very quickly, quickly than others and we said we will keep it there until the economy has weathered the effects of the virus and on track to achieve our goals. You can see in the dog plot as i think you pointed out the overwhelmingly the participants expect as a baseline expectation no rate increase at least through 2022 and if you look at surveys and forecasters are market produce reports, Financial Market prices et cetera, those reflect rates at the effective lower bound. The first thing is Monetary Policy is in
Many millions have lost their jobs. There is great uncertainty about the future. At the Federal Reserve, we are strongly committed to using our tools to do whatever we can, and for as long as it takes, to f provide some relief and stability, to ensure that the recovery will be as strong as possible, and to limit lasting damage to the economy. The most important response to this crisis has come from our health care workers. And on behalf of the Federal Reserve, let me express our sincere gratitude to those dedicated individuals who put themselves at risk, day after day, in service to others and to our nation. Let me also thank the many other essential workers across the country who have helped meet our basic needs for goods and services in these difficult times. The virus and the forceful measures taken to control its spread have induced a sharp decline in Economic Activity and a surge in job losses. Indicators of spending and production plummeted in april, and the decline in real gdp i
Jerome powell announced that Interest Rates will remain near zero for the foreseeable future in order to support Economic Growth following the coronavirus pandemic. This is conference runs one hour. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us. Hour. Our country continues to face a difficult and challenging time as a pandemic is causing tremendous hardship in the United States and around the world. People have lost loved ones and many millions have lost their jobs and there is great uncertainty about the future. At the Federal Reserve, we are strongly committed to using our tools to do whatever we can and for as long as it takes to provide some relief instability to ensure the recovery will be a strong as possible and to limit lasting damage to the economy. T lasting damage to the economy. The most important response to the crisis has come from a healthcare workers and on behalf of the Federal Reserve look me express our dedicated individuals who put themselves at risk day after
Do you think its important that congress extend the relief of extra Unemployment Benefits . I think we try to keep our comments on fiscal policy at a high level. Ill come to your specific question but i would just say this. This is the biggest economic shock in the u. S. And in the world, really, in living memory. We went from the lowest level of unemployment in 50 years to the highest level in close to 90 years and we did it in two months. Extraordinary. And appropriately, the response from fiscal authorities has been large, forceful and very quick by the standards of these things. Roughly 3 trillion congress has authorized and thats benefiting households, laid off workers, small, medium and large businesses, hospitals, state and local governments. 14 of gdp, its in a class by itself in terms of both the size and speed of it. Its also pretty innovative. Both the ppp and the Unemployment Insurance are quite innovative in the american context. There were difficulties in implementing the
I know youre loathe to lay into fiscal policy but given forecast for Unemployment Rates, do you think its important that congress extend the extra unemployment benefits. I think were trying to keep our comments on fiscal policy at a high level ill come to your specific question let me just say this, this is the biggest economic shock in the u. S. And in the world really in living memory we went from the lowest level of unemployment in 50 years to the highest level in close to 90 years and we did it in two months extraordinary. Appropriately the response there fiscal authorities has been large, forceful, and very quick by the standards of these things roughly 3 trillion congress has authorized, and thats benefiting households, laid off workers, small and medium businesses, hospitals, state and local governments, 14 of gdp, its in a class by itself in terms of both the size and the speed of it. Its also pretty innovative. Both the ppp and Unemployment Insurance are quite innovative in th