美联储柯林斯：如果通胀依然高企，将支持9月加息

Theo Odaily Planet Daily, Collins, a Federal Reserve official, stated that due to rising living cost pressures exacerbated by the Iran war, impoverished Americans are struggling to make ends meet. She warned that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates to curb inflation. Collins noted that businesses and households in the northeastern United States are being squeezed by inflation, which has exceeded the central bank's 2% target for more than five years. She pointed out, "I hear about the issue of prices in almost every conversation I have with businesses." She added, "Among low- and middle-income households, I increasingly hear about the challenges they face... such as difficulty in making ends meet. Energy prices are truly unaffordable, especially in our region."

Collins currently has no voting rights on the FOMC. She supported keeping interest rates unchanged in July and believes that the current rate level is "slightly restrictive" and that "this will lead to a gradual and sustained decline in inflation as expected." However, she stated that if economic data suggests the need for a rate hike, she would be willing to support a hike as early as September. She said, "I do believe that economic conditions in the coming months may require tighter policy, and in that case, I am prepared to raise interest rates." (Financial Times)