Perspectives on 2019 Monetary Policy

January 10, 2019

Presentation (pdf) | Press Release | Video | Photos

On Thursday, Jan. 10, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard outlined his perspective on monetary policy in 2019 at Power Up Little Rock, an event hosted by the Little Rock Regional Chamber. Bullard noted that U.S. monetary policymakers reacted to the upside surprise in macroeconomic performance during 2017 and 2018 by taking the opportunity to normalize U.S. short-term interest rates.

“Market-based signals such as low market-based inflation expectations and a threatening yield curve inversion suggest that this window of opportunity has now closed,” he said. He added that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) should heed these important signals in order to keep the U.S. expansion on track for the next several years. “The FOMC has already been sufficiently pre-emptive over the last two years to contain upside inflation risk,” he told an audience of about 200 business and civic leaders.

Video of Presentation and Audience Q&A:

Bullard was on a two-day tour of Little Rock, Ark., where the St. Louis Fed has a Branch. Besides meeting with business and civic leaders, Bullard toured Dassault Falcon Jet’s local manufacturing facility and met entrepreneurs at The Venture Center, a local business accelerator, on Thursday. Speaking engagements and visits to local businesses allow Bullard to deepen his understanding of the concerns and issues facing Main Street.

On Thursday evening, he attended a special reception commemorating the Branch’s centennial. On Friday, he met with current and former members of the Branch’s board of directors.

On Thursday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard offered his perspective on U.S. monetary policy in 2019 to the Little Rock Regional Chamber. Bullard speaks at events like the chamber’s Power Up Little Rock event to share his insights on the U.S. economy as well as gather views from Main Street. Around 200 business and civic leaders attended the event in Little Rock, Ark.
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On Thursday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard took questions from the audience at the Power Up Little Rock event, which was hosted by the Little Rock Regional Chamber. Attending such events allows Bullard to deepen his understanding of the concerns and issues facing Main Street. He took questions after offering his perspective on U.S. monetary policy in 2019 to about 200 business and civic leaders in Little Rock, Ark.
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On Thursday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard met with entrepreneurs who are receiving startup help from The Venture Center, a business accelerator in Little Rock, Ark. To gain a better understanding of the region’s economic dynamism, Bullard visits entrepreneurial programs like The Venture Center. Shown above (from left to right) are: Ola Okeshola of fintech startup Gerald; Wayne Miller, the center’s executive director; Bullard; and Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the St. Louis Fed’s Little Rock Branch.
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On Thursday, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard toured Dassault Falcon Jet’s manufacturing and finishing facility in Little Rock, Ark. Occupying nearly 1 million square feet, the Little Rock facility is Dassault’s largest facility in the world. Visiting local businesses helps Bullard gauge the state of the regional economy. Shown above (from left to right) are Mark Bremer, vice president of manufacturing operations at Dassault Falcon Jet, Bullard, and Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the St. Louis Fed’s Little Rock Branch.
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