Inflation fight ‘not a straight line’: Yellen

Rejects arguments recession or higher unemployment is needed to reduce inflation

BENGALURU:

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Saturday that new US data showing inflation jumped unexpectedly in January signals that the fight against inflation “is not a straight line” and more work is needed.

In an interview with Reuters at a G20 finance leaders meeting in India, Yellen rejected arguments from some economists that a recession or significantly higher unemployment was needed for the Federal Reserve to win its inflation fight, sticking to her view that inflation still can be brought down while maintaining a strong labour market.

The strongest US consumer spending data in nearly two years on Friday showed that the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE), jumped unexpectedly in January, calling into question whether the Fed remains behind in its inflation fight.

Revisions to prior data showed that previous disinflation was milder than previously reported.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2023.

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