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A growing number of Federal Reserve officials worried the Iran war could further stoke inflation and wanted to make clear following their March meeting that the central bank may have to consider raising interest rates.

Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s March 17-18 meeting, released Wednesday in Washington, showed policymakers wrestled with starkly differing scenarios for the US economy following the outbreak of the Iran war, and the policy reactions that might follow.
Most officials worried a protracted war could hurt the labor market and warrant lower interest rates. At the same time, many policymakers highlighted the risk to inflation that might ultimately warrant rate increases.

Officials in the latter camp appeared to become more strident, urging their colleagues to consider adding language to their post-meeting statement that raised the scenario of hiking rates under certain conditions.

“Some participants judged that there was a strong case for a two-sided description of the committee’s future interest-rate decisions in the post-meeting statement, reflecting the possibility that upward adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate could be appropriate if inflation were to remain at above-target levels,” the minutes said.
Echoing those concerns, the minutes noted the “vast majority” of officials thought it may take longer to return inflation to the Fed’s 2% goal.

At the meeting, officials held the Fed’s benchmark policy rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75% at that gathering.

Today's show features:
Michael McKee, Bloomberg International Economics and Policy Correspondent, breaks Fed Minutes
Matthew Luzzetti, Deutsche Bank Chief US Economist and Head of US Economic Research
Dr. Ed Husain, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
Michelle Gass, Levi's President & CEO on Levi Boosts Outlook as Direct-to-Consumer Strategy Pays Off

The people, companies and trends shaping the global economy. Watch Carol and Tim LIVE every day on YouTube: <a href="http://bit.ly/3vTiACF">http://bit.ly/3vTiACF</a>. A growing number of Federal Reserve officials worried the Iran war could further stoke inflation and wanted to make clear following their March meeting that the central bank may have to consider raising interest rates. Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee&rsquo;s March 17-18 meeting, released Wednesday in Washington, showed policymakers wrestled with starkly differing scenarios for the US economy following the outbreak of the Iran war, and the policy reactions that might follow. Most officials worried a protracted war could hurt the labor market and warrant lower interest rates. At the same time, many policymakers highlighted the risk to inflation that might ultimately warrant rate increases. Officials in the latter camp appeared to become more strident, urging their colleagues to consider adding language to their post-meeting statement that raised the scenario of hiking rates under certain conditions. &ldquo;Some participants judged that there was a strong case for a two-sided description of the committee&rsquo;s future interest-rate decisions in the post-meeting statement, reflecting the possibility that upward adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate could be appropriate if inflation were to remain at above-target levels,&rdquo; the minutes said. Echoing those concerns, the minutes noted the &ldquo;vast majority&rdquo; of officials thought it may take longer to return inflation to the Fed&rsquo;s 2% goal. At the meeting, officials held the Fed&rsquo;s benchmark policy rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75% at that gathering. Today's show features:
<ul>
<li>Michael McKee, Bloomberg International Economics and Policy Correspondent, breaks Fed Minutes</li>
<li>Matthew Luzzetti, Deutsche Bank Chief US Economist and Head of US Economic Research</li>
<li>Dr. Ed Husain, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations</li>
<li>Michelle Gass, Levi's President &amp; CEO on Levi Boosts Outlook as Direct-to-Consumer Strategy Pays Off</li>
</ul>

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Listen for reporting from the magazine that helps global leaders stay ahead. Hosts Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec bring you insight on the people, companies and trends shaping today's complex economy.&nbsp; You can watch and listen to Businessweek LIVE on YouTube, weekdays from 2PM to 5PM ET: <a href="http://bit.ly/3vTiACF">http://bit.ly/3vTiACF</a>.&nbsp;

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Fed Minutes Show Officials Saw Two-Sided Risks From Iran War 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/26f5a27e-99db-45a9-b6f8-b42601491df4/transcript