Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Near $70,000 Amid FOMC Meeting Minutes Revealing Inflation Concerns

Fed Officials Express Concerns About Inflation, Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates Soon

Federal Reserve officials expressed growing concern about inflation during their most recent meeting, with many members hesitant to move forward with interest rate reductions.

• Meeting Details: Minutes from the April 30-May 1 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting revealed worries about the persistence of inflation. Despite some easing over the past year, recent data showed significant increases in both goods and services prices.
• Fed’s Target: The Fed aims for a 2% inflation rate, but current indicators show prices increasing well above this target. This persistent inflation has led some policymakers to consider further tightening of monetary policy if necessary.

We have posted the minutes from the #FOMC meeting held April 30 – May 1, 2024: https://t.co/cenMn4Jxn0

— Federal Reserve (@federalreserve) May 22, 2024

 

The FOMC decided to keep the short-term borrowing rate in the 5.25%-5.5% range, a 23-year high. The decision was based on data indicating continued solid economic growth.

Since then, there have been minor improvements, with the April consumer price index showing a 3.4% annual inflation rate, slightly lower than March.

However, consumer sentiment surveys indicate rising concerns about inflation.

Risks and Concerns

Fed officials noted several upside risks to inflation, including geopolitical events and the impact on low-income consumers. Some attributed early-year inflation increases to seasonal factors, while others warned against dismissing these broad-based moves.

Concerns were also raised about consumers turning to riskier financing methods, like increased credit card use and buy-now-pay-later services.

Despite optimism about growth prospects, officials expect some moderation this year. They believe inflation will eventually return to the 2% target but are uncertain about the timeline and the impact of high interest rates.

Market Expectations

Since the meeting, Fed officials have maintained a cautious tone. Fed Governor Waller emphasized the need for “several months” of positive data before considering rate cuts.

Chair Jerome Powell echoed the need for patience, suggesting the Fed will wait for restrictive policies to curb inflation. Futures pricing indicates a 60% chance of the first rate cut in September, with lower expectations for a second cut in December.

Impact on Bitcoin: Rising interest rates could decrease Bitcoin’s appeal as an inflation hedge, potentially leading to price volatility.

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