The Fed is proceeding carefully and policymakers will make decisions about the extent of additional policy firming and how long policy will remain restrictive based on the totality of the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks, Fed Chair Powell said at the Economic Club of New York. Fed Chair added that tight policy is putting downward pressure on economic activity and inflation. However, additional evidence of persistently above-trend growth, or that tightness in the labor market is no longer easing, could put further progress on inflation at risk and could warrant further tightening of monetary policy. Powell also noted that inflation is still too high and that a sustainable return to the 2% inflation goal is likely to require a period of below-trend growth and some further softening in labor market conditions. The Fed kept the target range for the federal funds rate at a 22-year high of 5.25%-5.5% in its September 2023 meeting.
