Fed chief on high oil prices, consumer spending and inflation

Jan. 18, 2008
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, discussing financial markets, the economic outlook and monetary policy in a Jan. 10 speech in Washington.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, discussing financial markets, the economic outlook and monetary policy in a Jan. 10 speech at the Women in Housing and Finance and Exchequer Club joint luncheon in Washington:

"Although economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter of last year from the third quarter's rapid clip, it seems nonetheless, as best we can tell, to have continued at a moderate pace. Recently, however, incoming information has suggested that the baseline outlook for real activity in 2008 has worsened and the downside risks to growth have become more pronounced. Notably, the demand for housing seems to have weakened further, in part reflecting the ongoing problems in mortgage markets. In addition, a number of factors, including higher oil prices, lower equity prices, and softening home values, seem likely to weigh on consumer spending as we move into 2008 . . .

"Even as the outlook for real activity has weakened, there have been some important developments on the inflation front. Most notably, the same increase in oil prices that may be a negative influence on growth is also lifting overall consumer prices and probably putting some upward pressure on core inflation measures as well. Last year, food prices also increased exceptionally rapidly by recent standards, further boosting overall consumer price inflation.

"Thus far, inflation expectations appear to have remained reasonably well anchored, and pressures on resource utilization have diminished a bit. However, any tendency of inflation expectations to become unmoored or for the Fed's inflation-fighting credibility to be eroded could greatly complicate the task of sustaining price stability and reduce the central bank's policy flexibility to counter shortfalls in growth in the future. Accordingly, in the months ahead we will be closely monitoring the inflation situation, particularly as regards inflation expectations."