「Fed Taper Talk」: Rate Cut Discussion Nearly Concluded, Fed Begins Serious Discussion on Possibility of Rate Hike

BlockBeats News, May 21st, Wall Street Journal reporter Nick Timiraos, known as the "Fed Whisperer," said that Federal Reserve officials have almost ceased discussing the issue that has dominated policy debates for the past two years, namely, whether to cut interest rates, and have instead begun to more seriously consider the opposite direction at last month's meeting: whether to hike rates.

The minutes of the April policy meeting showed: "Most participants emphasized that if inflation continues to stay above 2 percent, further policy tightening might become appropriate." The April meeting was Chair Powell's last meeting as Federal Reserve Chair, and the minutes highlighted how the Middle East conflict has reshaped the rate-setting committee's outlook.