Some Fed officials have emphasized overnight the need for a extended period of restrictive monetary policy as they seek clearer signs of sustainable inflation reduction.

At an event, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester stated that incoming economic data suggests it will “take longer” to gain the confidence needed to start lowering interest rates. Mester emphasized that “holding our restrictive stance for longer is prudent” as Fed seeks clarity on the inflation path.

Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, speaking at another event, acknowledged that the April inflation report provided some important insights, particularly noting a slowed rise in shelter costs. However, he cautioned that “one data point is not a trend,” highlighting the importance of watching the May and June data to ensure figures don’t reverse.

In a CNBC interview, Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin reiterated the need for patience, noting that achieving 2% inflation sustainably “is going to take a little bit more time.” Barkin pointed out that there is still significant movement on the services side of the economy.

In a Reuters interview, New York Fed President John Williams expressed confidence in the current state of monetary policy, stating that it is “in a good place.” He highlighted the positive mix of economic data, noting strong consumer spending, business investment, and GDP growth. He emphasized that the economy is “not really at a near-term risk” and remains robust, supported by a strong labor market.

Williams indicated that he does not see any immediate need to tighten monetary policy, as current indicators do not suggest that the Fed’s actions are harming the economy or interfering with its goals. “So I don’t see any need to tighten monetary policy today,” he added.

Looking ahead, Williams acknowledged that lower interest rates would be necessary as inflation approaches 2% target. He explained that once inflation is sustainably at this level, Fed would need to reduce its “restrictive influence” on the economy, and move to a “more neutral kind of position.”

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee, in a Marketplace interview, emphasized the importance of a significant decline in housing inflation to achieve the Fed’s 2% overall target.

“It would be hard for me to see that we could get to the 2% overall target unless house prices, inflation comes down substantially from where it is right now,” Goolsbee stated.

Despite the current challenges, Goolsbee remains optimistic, noting, “I’m still both optimistic and my read of the evidence is that that is going to happen.” He pointed to yesterday’s CPI numbers, which show some decrease in housing costs, as a positive sign.

However, he cautioned that if this trend does not continue, Fed will need to delve deeper to understand the underlying issues.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari stated overnight that Fed likely needs to keep interest rates at the current level for “a while longer,” raising questions about how much they are restraining the US economy.

He highlighted that the “biggest uncertainty” is understanding the exact amount of “downward pressure” monetary policy is putting on the economy. This uncertainty means Fed “probably need[s] to sit here for a while longer” until there is more clarity on where “underlying inflation is headed” before drawing any conclusions.

He remarked on the surprising “resilience” of the economy, suggesting that current interest rates might mean “we’re putting one foot on the brake and not two.”

Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid expressed confidence that inflation will gradually return to Fed’s 2% target “over time”. But he also emphasized the importance of patience, saying, “I am prepared to be patient as this process plays out.”

Schmid highlighted the necessity of curbing demand growth to allow supply to catch up, which is essential for closing the imbalance driving inflation.

Regarding Fed’s balance sheet, “I didn’t really think we should have slowed the runoff,” Schmid said. “I think there was room to continue to run off like we were doing.”

Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester, in an interview with WSJ, expressed a cautious stance on interest rate hikes, stating, “I am not eager to consider interest rate hikes.” Mester emphasized that Fed is in a “really good place” to study the economy before deciding on the next steps for interest rates.

Mester highlighted that it’s too early to determine whether the disinflation has stalled or if inflation is set to reverse. She noted that there are clear indications that the real side of the economy is “moderating”, which is contributing to a better balance within the economy.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell, speaking at an event in Amsterdam, characterized the recent US economic data as presenting a “good picture.” He noted that the labor market is showing signs of “gradual cooling” and moving toward “better balance.” However, he pointed out that disinflation in the first quarter was marked by a “lack of further progress.”

Addressing today’s US PPI data, Powell described it as more “mixed” than “hot,” explaining that while the April figures were higher than expected, previous data had been revised lower.

Powell reiterated that he does not anticipate the central bank’s next move on interest rates to be an increase.