US Fed chair Kevin Warsh says this after holding rates steady

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Reiterating that the committee was committed to delivering the 2% target, Warsh noted that there was perhaps a misimpression among market participants and households and businesses that despite setting the inflation target at 2%, the Fed was more tolerable to higher inflation target, in what is known in economics as revealed preference. But the Board, during its meeting in the last two days, reiterated its commitment to the 2% target, he said.

Warsh noted that the focus of the committee was on trying to understand and identify the underlying inflation dynamics and shocks, and they were trying to understand to what extent these shocks were broadening in their effects and impact the prices that are quite far removed from it.

“Our goal is to have growth that is broadening and inflation that is becoming more limited,” he said, adding that he was sure that the views of the memebers would refine in this direction in the future.

Also read: US Federal Reserve keeps rates steady as Iran-driven inflation risks keep markets on edge

Warsh said forward guidance was more prudent in crisis situations not in benign conditions.

Warsh asserted that the U.S. central bank has no higher "soft target" for inflation and is determined to meet its longstanding 2% goal despite leaving rates unchanged amid elevated inflation readings.

"For some households, businesses, and market professionals, five years of high inflation have left a mistaken impression -that's hard to shake - that the Fed's implicit inflation target was somehow above 2%," Warsh told a news conference. "Let me reiterate: there is no soft inflation target. There is no soft implicit target, not on this committee's watch. There's only a target, and it's 2%."

He also said that he’ll be sticking with post-Federal Open Market Committee meeting press conferences for now. “Between now and year end, my predecessors and the Federal Reserve committed to press conferences this year. I'm committing to press conferences this year."

Warsh explained on Wednesday why he notes how the financial market has moved to price in tighter monetary policy in the absence of central bank guidance, but he’s not obliged to follow what traders and investors are doing.

“I was comforted that markets in the intermeeting period weren't reacting to us” in moving to price in tighter financial conditions, Warsh said.

“I think has been a useful development,” Warsh said, while adding, “we don't endorse any particular market move, but I'd also suggest we observe them with keen interest.”

Referring to the three dissenting votes favoring rate hikes versus the Federal Open Market Committee decision to hold the federal funds rate steady, Warsh said that “I asked for a good family fight, and I got one. That's the purpose. That's the design feature,” adding “there was a large majority support for the decision that we made in the room.”

(With inputs from Agencies)

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