Fed Officials Highlight Inflation Concerns Amid Energy Price Surge

On April 7, Jin10 reported that the ongoing conflict in Iran has led to a rise in energy prices, while the job market remains sluggish. Federal Reserve officials Hamack and Goolsbee have expressed that inflation is a more pressing issue than employment, suggesting their support for tightening rather than loosening monetary policy. In an interview, they were asked to assess the economic situation using colors, ranging from 'red' for urgent to 'green' for stable. Goolsbee described the inflation outlook as 'at least orange,' indicating a less optimistic scenario. He remarked, 'I was initially hopeful that we would return to the 2% inflation target, but recent developments have been disappointing.' Hamack also voiced concerns about inflation, noting that it has exceeded target levels for five consecutive years and has been 'essentially flat' over the past two years, describing the situation as a 'brighter, more vivid orange.' Regarding employment, Hamack expressed optimism, suggesting a yellow-green outlook, while Goolsbee rated the labor market as 'yellow.'