(ANSA-AFP) - ROME, 05 FEB - Fed President Jerome Powell believes a rate cut as early as March is unlikely and reiterates the position already indicated by the Monetary Policy Committee (FOMC) which expects to have greater confidence in the lasting decline in inflation before start monetary easing.
A position reiterated in a long interview with CBS, with Powell still considering it unlikely that a reduction will be decided at the next meeting in March.
"They don't have to be better than what we've seen, or even as good. They simply have to be good," he said, referring to the necessary conditions, weighing "the risk of acting too early against the risk of moving too late. "The moment is approaching (... ), according to our forecasts", he wanted to reassure.
According to Powell, the inflation rate should continue to fall in the first half of the year and the Fed should position itself again on the rate target at its March meeting.
At the end of the December meeting it was at 4.6%.
"The economy is strong. The job market is strong. Inflation is coming down. There's no reason why this can't continue," he noted.
"I really think the economy is in a good place," he said.
(ANSA-AFP).
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