Three Fed Presidents Say Disinflation May Prompt Easing
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Three regional Federal Reserve bank presidents said a further decline in U.S. inflation below the Fed’s 2 percent goal may signal a need for more accommodation.
“If inflation looked like it was going to sag further on a persistent basis, I would certainly consider stimulus for the purpose of bringing inflation up to target,” Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker said today, adding he doesn’t see an imminent disinflation risk. Minneapolis Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota today called for guarding the inflation target “from below,” while James Bullard of St. Louis said yesterday, “we should defend the inflation target from the low side.”