In a move that surprised precisely no one, Powell, the maestro of monetary matters, discussed how slapping tariffs on things could, in fact, make those same things more expensive. China, in a tit-for-tat that would make a playground bully proud, slapped a 34% tariff on our widgets and whatnots, plus a few extra trade restrictions for good measure.
After a couple of years of growth that could be described as ‘not terrible,’ analysts are now donning their pessimist hats, predicting a growth rate that could be generously called ‘sluggish.’
In a move that will surprise precisely no one, the Fed has decided to take a ‘wait and see’ approach, which is a fancy way of saying ‘we’re going to sit here and watch the world burn, but hey, maybe we’ll cut rates later!’
While inflation has taken a dive, like a lemming off a cliff, its progress toward the magical 2% target has slowed to a crawl. Expect it to bounce back in the next few quarters, because what’s life without a little inflationary fun?
Our sacred duty is to keep those long-term expectations anchored, like a ship in a storm. We’ll keep watching, and waiting, and watching some more before we do anything about monetary policy.
The Fed, ever the tightrope walker, is trying to balance the risk of inflation with the joy of economic growth. The labor market is as steady as a fiddler on a roof, with March adding 228,000 jobs, but Powell’s words are like a gentle reminder that tariffs could spike inflation and kill consumer confidence like a ninja in the night.
Fed officials have noted the uncertainty tariffs bring, which could slow down business and household spending like a snail on a cold day.
Experts are divided, some predicting a sharp rise in inflation, while others expect the Fed to hold off on rate hikes, because who doesn’t love a good tariff-driven inflation party? As for recession fears, Powell says the Fed can’t predict recessions, because if we could, we’d all be millionaires, wouldn’t we?
Investors are now holding their breath for rate cuts, with the risk of a slowdown potentially pushing the economy toward a recession. Powell’s comments will be the guiding light in these dark, economic times.
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2025-04-04 18:40