Can the Federal Reserve Look Past Trump’s Tariffs?

Published On Feb 17, 2025, 6:01 PM

Federal Reserve officials are concerned about how President Trump's tariff policies may affect inflation and interest rates. While there is renewed price pressure from rising grocery costs, particularly eggs, Fed governor Christopher J. Waller indicated that he does not foresee significant disruptions to rate cuts intended to control inflation. He suggested that while tariffs may cause temporary price increases, these effects could be managed by other policies that may mitigate inflation in the long term.

Stock Forecasts

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If the Federal Reserve continues to lower interest rates as it has suggested, it could stimulate economic growth and support consumer spending. This might positively impact sectors such as consumer discretionary and financial services, which benefit from lower borrowing costs.

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Conversely, if tariffs substantially increase consumer prices leading to reduced spending, it could hurt stock prices in consumer staples, especially if earnings from these companies stagnate or decline due to fluctuating costs and sales.

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