The first Federal Reserve official this year stated: it is difficult to determine the impact of Trump's policies, and MMF policy will depend on economic data.
Federal Reserve Board member Kugler stated, "There is a view that we can slow down and adopt a more gradual approach" while observing data to determine whether stubborn inflationary pressures will begin to ease again. She also mentioned that the current economic situation is good, and although the job market has cooled somewhat, it remains resilient with the unemployment rate at historically low levels.
Federal Reserve's Barkin: The outlook for 2025 is optimistic, and inflation in the USA is expected to continue to decline.
① Richmond Federal Reserve President Barkin stated that the current level of interest rates set by the Federal Reserve is sufficient to lower inflation by 2025; ② Barkin believes that although inflation in the USA has not reached the target, there is no longer a need for stringent restrictions like before; ③ Barkin anticipates that economic growth will face more upward risks, and the labor market is more likely to shift towards hiring rather than layoffs.
In December 2023, the USA's ISM Manufacturing PMI reached a nine-month high, with a surge in prices and new Order Index, while employment remains sluggish.
In December, the ISM manufacturing Index in the USA was 49.3, better than the expected 48.2, compared to 48.4 in November. The new Order Index was 52.5, reaching a new high since January 2024, while November was 50.4. The employment Index was 45.3, compared to the previous value of 48.1. The prices paid Index was 52.5, while November was 50.3. Analysts stated that this is a relatively robust manufacturing report.
When will QT end? The Federal Reserve's reserves have fallen below 3 trillion USD, the lowest since 2020.
As of the week ending January 1, 2025, Banks' reserves decreased by approximately 326 billion dollars, bringing the total down to 2.89 trillion dollars. This significant decline mainly occurred at the end of the year, as banks reduced operations on their balance sheets, such as repurchase agreement Trades, to meet regulatory requirements.
DXY: Overvalued USD Consolidates – Scotiabank
US Dollar Falls Early Friday Ahead of ISM Manufacturing, Natural Gas Storage Inventory Report, Richmond Fed's Barkin
