The Balance Today: News You Need To Know on Aug. 22, 2022

What’s the Fed Chair Going to Say this Week?

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 15: U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following a meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) at the headquarters of the Federal Reserve on June 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. Powell announced that the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point, the highest rate hike in 28 years.
Photo:

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The recent wave of good economic data might have ended and investors may be back to feeling anxious, as stocks have fallen ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s keynote address at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium later this week. 

Held annually in Jackson Hole, Wyoming since 1981, the symposium brings together central bankers and economists from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues impacting the economy and affecting monetary policy. 

Powell is expected to share the central bank’s economic outlook in an address on Friday morning, which will likely include the bank’s view on inflation, recession possibilities, and future rate hikes.

Policymakers at the Fed have repeatedly said they will do what it takes to bring inflation down in line with the Fed’s inflation target of 2%—a long way off from the 8.5% annual inflation rate we experienced in July. 

Currently, the central bank is expected to hike rates at least one more time in September, at the bank’s next policy meeting. But by how much? Markets are fairly split right now on whether the Fed will hit us with another supersized rate hike which would make borrowing money—like for a mortgage or a car—even more expensive. 

Was this page helpful?
Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "Calendar."

  2. CME Group. "CME Fed Watch Tool."

Related Articles