Central Banks
Fed’s Bullard Open to Half-Point Rate Hike at Next Meeting
- Official seeks fed funds rate at 5.375% as soon as possible
- Advocated for 50 basis-point increase at last meeting
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said he would not rule out supporting a half-percentage-point interest-rate hike at the Fed’s March meeting, rather than the quarter point that other officials have signaled may be appropriate.
“My overall judgment is it will be a long battle against inflation, and we’ll probably have to continue to show inflation-fighting resolve as we go through 2023,” Bullard told reporters Thursday following a presentation to the Greater Jackson Chamber in Jackson, Tennessee. He said he wanted to bring the Fed’s policy rate up to 5.375% as soon as possible.