Elizabeth Warren Calls on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to Lower Interest Rates
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Jacky Rosen and John Hickenlooper called for lowering the Fed’s interest rate in a recent letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Fed interest rates are currently at 5.5 percent, the highest in two decades. Senators argue that higher interest rates increase the economic burden on working Americans.
Senator Elizabeth Warren Talked About EU Rate Cut
The pressure on Americans comes particularly from the cost of home and auto insurance. Moreover, this request by the Fed to cut interest rates comes at a time when there is a global trend for central banks to cut interest rates. In particular, the European Central Bank recently reduced interest rates from 4% to 3.75%, further widening the interest rate gap between Europe and the US.
For this reason, senators recommend a similar move in the USA. “The Fed’s decision to keep interest rates high continues to widen the interest rate gap between Europe and the USA,” the senators wrote. “Low interest rates could push the dollar higher, tightening financial conditions,” they added.
Warren, along with other senators, argued that current Fed policy is counterproductive. They also claimed that housing and insurance costs, which contribute significantly to inflation, have also increased.
Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates a staggering eleven times. Thus, the country witnessed the highest Fed interest rate in the last 20 years. The Fed’s continued stance despite increasing calls for interest rate cuts from economists and legislators has increased the fear that the economic distress will worsen. In their letter, the senators point out the negative effects of high interest rates on the housing market.
They argue that the nation’s severe housing shortage has been made worse by the Fed’s policies that keep mortgage rates high. “Lower mortgage rates will encourage more people to sell their homes, which will increase housing supply, lower prices, ease rental costs and ultimately increase homeownership,” they added.
Also Read: Bitcoin (BTC) Price Drops to Weekly Low Ahead of Fed Rate Cut Decision, Is More Pain Ahead?
Current Monetary Policy Is Not Effective in Reducing Inflation
As for rising auto insurance rates, senators note that several factors are contributing to the increase. These include mechanical shortages, more serious and frequent car accidents, the effects of climate change, and more complex vehicles that cost more to repair. “None of these factors can be mitigated by higher interest rates,” they emphasized.
Additionally, the letter reflects a broader concern that the Fed’s monetary policy in some legislation is not effectively containing inflation. They believe this actually contributes to economic instability. US senators argue that high interest rates threaten the economy and pose a risk of recession.
“In fact, it increases the cost of home and auto insurance, two of the primary drivers of inflation, threatens the health of the economy, and risks a recession that could displace thousands of American workers. “You’ve kept interest rates too high for too long: it’s time to lower them,” the senators said.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has been particularly vocal about the negative effects of the Fed’s rate hikes. In March 2024, he and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse expressed concerns that rate increases stalled the spread of clean energy technologies and undermined the climate and consumer benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Earlier this year, Senators Warren, Hickenlooper, Rosen, and Whitehouse called on the Fed to reverse rate hikes, citing negative effects on affordable housing. Additionally, Senator Warren has consistently challenged Fed Chair Powell on monetary policy.
He highlighted the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities and warned of broader economic risks. For example, in a July 2023 letter, he expressed concern about rising unemployment rates among Black workers, attributing the trend to the Fed’s policies.
Also Read: Tech and Crypto Stocks Soar Ahead of Fed Meeting
✓ Share:
parofix consists of an experienced team of local content writers and editors who work around the clock to cover the news globally and present the news as a fact rather than an opinion. parofix writers and reporters contributed to this article.
The content presented may contain the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market conditions. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. Neither the author nor the publication accepts any liability for your personal financial loss.
#Elizabeth #Warren #Calls #Fed #Chairman #Jerome #Powell #Interest #Rates