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Labor Market Concerns and High Inflation Projections Dominate the Latest Findings
Inflation, that persistent economic specter, continues to cast a shadow over American expectations, with the latest Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey revealing heightened concerns. Published on Monday, the survey reflects an unwavering belief among Americans that high inflation will persist in the years to come.
Inflation Expectations Remain Elevated
According to the New York Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Expectations, the median expectation is that inflation will stand at 3.6% one year from now, a noticeable drop from its peak at 7.1% in June 2022 but a slight increase from the 3.5% recorded just last month. Moreover, consumers anticipate inflation to remain elevated in the coming years, with a projected 3% rate three years from now, up from July’s 2.9%, and a modest cooling to 2.8% five years from now.
These projections significantly exceed the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, suggesting that stubborn inflation may be here to stay, contrary to the central bank’s forecast that inflation would fall to 2% by 2025. Americans are bracing for increased costs across various necessities, including rent, gasoline, medical expenses, food, and even college tuition. Home prices are also expected to surge by 3.1%, the highest reading since July 2022.
Consumer Expectations Shape Policy
The New York Fed survey, conducted among a rotating panel of 1,300 households, plays a pivotal role in influencing Fed policymakers’ response to the inflationary crisis. This influence stems from the concept that actual inflation can depend on consumer expectations; if everyone foresees a 3% price increase in the coming year, businesses may feel justified in raising prices by that margin, prompting workers to demand higher wages to cope with rising costs.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has repeatedly emphasized the commitment of policymakers to rein in inflation, with a strong indication that interest rates will rise multiple times by year-end. Nonetheless, the recent tightening campaign, which saw the benchmark federal funds rate raised 11 times in 16 months to its highest level since 2001, may see a pause during the next meeting in September to assess its impact on the economy.
Concerns Extend Beyond Inflation
The New York Fed survey also highlighted growing concerns about the labor market and household finances. The perceived probability of job loss in the next 12 months rose by 2 percentage points to 13.8%, the highest level since April 2021. Mean unemployment expectations, which gauge the likelihood of higher U.S. unemployment one year from now, increased by 1.8 percentage points to 48.5% in August.
Simultaneously, households grew more pessimistic about their financial situation and access to credit. The median expected growth in household income declined by 0.3 percentage points to 2.9% in August, the lowest reading since July 2021. Additionally, perceptions of credit access compared to the same time last year deteriorated, with the share of households reporting it is harder to obtain credit reaching a new series high.
As inflation expectations persist and labor market concerns loom, the Federal Reserve faces a challenging path to navigate the economic landscape and achieve its inflation targets.
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