Commentary
In what can be best described as a classic western showdown, on one side is the Federal Reserve, which is tasked with managing the monetary system, and on the other side are market participants who want to keep the good times rolling. Both gunslingers came prepared, as the Fed is eager to show it can put an end to higher inflation while the market participants believe they can break the Fed’s will.
The stakes are high as inflation has spiraled out of control due to the global pandemic shutdown, extremely easy monetary policy, and repeated rounds of fiscal stimulus. Inflation was once a target the Fed could not reach and has now become a political concern as prices are rising faster than wages. Unless inflation is brought under control, and quickly, history shows that periods of high inflation are often followed by deep recessions.
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