St. Louis Fed’s Bullard Presents “The First Steps toward Disinflation”

All twelve Federal Reserve Districts have reported continued economic growth since the prior Beige Book period, with a majority indicating slight or modest growth; four Districts indicated moderate growth. Four Districts explicitly noted that the pace of growth had slowed since the prior period. Contacts in most Districts reported ongoing growth in manufacturing. Retail contacts noted some softening as consumers faced higher prices, and residential real estate contacts observed weakness as buyers faced high prices and rising interest rates. Contacts tended to cite labor market difficulties as their greatest challenge, followed by supply chain disruptions. Rising interest rates, general inflation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and disruptions from COVID-19 cases (especially in the Northeast) round out the key concerns impacting household and business plans. Eight Districts reported that expectations of future growth among their contacts had diminished; contacts in three Districts specifically expressed concerns about a recession. tweet at 2:01pm: FED BEIGE BOOK: CONTACTS IN 2 DISTRICTS NOTED RAPID PRICE INCREASES CONTINUING; 3 OBSERVED IT HAD MODERATED SOMEWHAT #News #Forex tweet at 2:01pm: *FED BEIGE BOOK: JOBS ROSE MODESTLY, MODERATELY IN ALL DISTRICTS tweet at 2:04pm: Fed Beige Book Shows Economic Growth Slowing In Some Areas - Contacts Tended To Cite Labour Market Difficulties As Greatest Challenge, Followed By Supply Chain Disruptions tweet at 2:03pm: FED'S BEIGE BOOK: RISING INTEREST RATES, GENERAL INFLATION, THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE, AND DISRUPTIONS FROM COVID-19 CASES ROUND OUT THE KEY CONCERNS IMPACTING HOUSEHOLD AND BUSINESS PLANS.