Economics
Hot U.S. Inflation Could Stir Once-Sleepy Household Expectations
- Consumers have ignored the Fed and inflation for years
- Fed needs simple messages with broad appeal, economists say
This article is for subscribers only.
U.S. inflation is back in the news after being dormant for years, potentially affecting how Americans think about price pressures after not thinking about them much at all.
The Federal Reserve says expectations that inflation will stay near its 2% target will help to ensure the current surge in consumer prices, which jumped 5% in May, will be temporary. Chair Jerome Powell can expect questions on this at his post-meeting press conference Wednesday.