美联储主席杰罗姆·鲍威尔今天在纽约举行的美国货币政策论坛上发表演讲,强调在当前经济不确定性的背景下,央行应采取谨慎态度。
鲍威尔重申美联储准备维持当前利率,并采取“观望”立场,关注近期政策变化和经济指标的影响。
他说:“我们不必着急,我们可以等待更明确的消息。”
鲍威尔强调了美国劳动力市场的强劲表现,并指出雇主在2月份增加了15.1万个就业岗位,自9月份以来每月平均新增就业岗位19.1万个。
失业率小幅上升至 4.1%,过去一年仍保持在 3.9% 至 4.2% 之间的窄幅区间内。
他观察到工资增长已放缓至更可持续的速度,使劳动力供需趋于平衡,从而减轻了劳动力市场的通胀压力。
他说:“随着工资增长放缓以及劳动力供需更加平衡,劳动力市场不再是通胀压力的重要来源。”
Addressing inflation, Powell noted a significant decline from its mid-2022 peak above 7% to 2.5% as of January. He cautioned that recent readings remain somewhat above the Federal Reserveâs 2% objective.Â
鲍威尔表示:“通胀持续回升至目标的道路充满坎坷,我们预计这种情况将会持续下去。”
他强调不要对短期波动反应过度的重要性,并重申央行致力于密切监测通胀趋势,以确保其与长期目标保持一致。
他说道:“通货膨胀率每个月都会有波动,我们不会对一两个高于或低于预期的读数反应过度。”
Powell touched on recent trade policies, including the Trump administrationâs announcements and subsequent delays on steep import tariffs affecting trading partners such as Mexico, Canada, and China.
These policy shifts have contributed to market volatility and have complicated the economic outlook. Powell emphasized the need for clarity in these areas before making any adjustments to monetary policy, stating that the central bank is well-positioned to wait for greater clarity on the economic outlook.
Given these factors, Powell indicated that the Federal Reserve is likely to keep its key interest rate unchanged in the coming months. The central bank had previously cut the benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points to a range of 4.25% to 4.5% in late 2024 and maintained this policy in January.Â
Crypto has responded to Powellâs comments with cautious optimism. Investors appear reassured by the Federal Reserveâs patient approach, though concerns about potential stagflation and Trumpâs ongoing crypto summit persist.Â
比特币目前的交易价格为 88,300 美元。