Yesterday’s release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve Bank’s April meeting sent shock waves through the investing community. The text revealed that the Fed Board of Governors has become significantly more bearish on the outlook of the US economy, as compared to sentiments expressed at the January meeting. The consensus forecast covering 2008-2009 worsened for all of the major economic indicators, including GDP growth, inflation, and employment. If the low end of the new GDP estimate ultimately obtains, the US economy will expand by only .3% for 2008.
Fed officials went so far as to say that even by 2010, they don’t expect rates of inflation and unemployment to return to acceptable levels. To make matters worse, the minutes revealed some opposition to the 25 basis point rate cut that was implemented at the April meeting, on the basis of inflation concerns. The minutes further confirmed that the Fed does not plan to cut rates any further, for fear of stoking price inflation and fomenting another asset bubble. The Wall Street Journal reports:In a speech Wednesday, Fed Governor Kevin Warsh said the central bank now must look to financial institutions to raise capital and take other actions to improve market functioning.
Read More: Fed’s Forecast Grows Gloomier
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