The strengthening of US economy and geopolitics pushing inflation higher were key reasons for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, its chair Kevin Warsh said on Wednesday. Reiterating his commitment not to give forward guidance on the rate path, he pointed to trends in the economic data to deliver the Fed's stated objective of price stability.
The American economy appears to be strengthening. New hirings, private sector earnings and business capital investment have improved in recent months. Credit flows have been robust, he said at a press conference, adding, "I would be hard pressed to describe broad financial conditions as restrictive. So we removed the dose of accommodation, so that financial and credit conditions would be more consistent with our ultimate objectives.”
