Fed Expected to Keep Raising Rates Until Inflation Cools

Kelsey Berro, Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at JPMorgan Asset Management, discussed the Federal Reserve’s challenging position amid recent disinflationary signals. Despite expectations for a modest 0.2% month-over-month increase in core CPI and relatively moderate inflation rates over several time horizons, the Fed remains cautious due to core PCE inflation running above 3%. Berro emphasized that a single data point will not dictate the Fed’s next move, especially with key economic reports such as CPI, PPI, and payrolls scheduled in the coming weeks, alongside the upcoming Jackson Hole symposium. The market continues to price in potential rate hikes, reflecting the Fed’s possible strategy of implementing ‘insurance hikes’ if inflation data remains elevated and the labor market stable. (Source: Bloomberg)