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Fed’s Daly says price stability must not ‘harm the economy’

Mary Daly, a Federal Reserve official, believes raising interest rates too aggressively could damage the economy, suggesting she’s wary of further rate hikes while inflation remains higher than desired.

Summary

  • San Francisco Fed’s Mary Daly stresses price stability remains “crucial” but warns against over-tightening
  • Daly’s comments echo her earlier calls for “patience” and “deliberate calibration” on rate cuts
  • Her stance comes as markets price in later Fed easing, raising questions for risk assets including crypto

Mary Daly, head of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, emphasized that controlling inflation is still the Fed’s top priority. However, she cautioned that the Fed needs to achieve this without damaging the overall economy, according to a recent overview of her comments.

According to reports from Chaincatcher, Daly continues to describe monetary policy as a careful effort to lower inflation to the Fed’s 2% goal while also maintaining a strong job market.

Daly highlighted the importance of a balanced approach, echoing previous comments that current policies are on track and the Federal Reserve can take its time assessing new economic information. She’s stated before that simply seeing improvement isn’t enough to declare victory over inflation. Because both inflation and employment remain uncertain, she believes it’s best to consider a range of possible economic scenarios instead of relying on a single prediction.

Daly’s balancing act on inflation

In past statements, Federal Reserve official Daly has emphasized that the Fed must continue its current policies to bring prices under control, while also admitting that inflation has remained stubbornly high. She has consistently cautioned that holding interest rates elevated for an extended period could harm employment. Daly argues that if strict policies lead to widespread job losses, achieving low inflation wouldn’t be a true success because it would come at the cost of people’s livelihoods, and that outcome doesn’t align with the Fed’s goals.

Recent statements from Daly reveal a cautious approach, emphasizing the need to carefully consider economic data before making any decisions. She’s stressed the importance of controlling inflation without overreacting to short-term changes. Investors believe this suggests the Federal Reserve will likely keep interest rates steady, between 5.25% and 5.50%, until there’s strong proof that inflation is consistently moving towards the 2% target.

Implications for markets and policy path

Federal Reserve Governor Daly recently emphasized that controlling prices shouldn’t come at the expense of a healthy economy, explaining why many officials are hesitant to make drastic changes to interest rates. This view is shared by financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, which now anticipates the first Fed rate cut will happen no earlier than September 2026 and expects inflation to remain around 2.9%. This suggests interest rates will likely stay high for a while, creating challenges for investments.

Although Daly didn’t offer precise predictions for economic growth, job numbers, or when interest rates might change, her statements indicate the Federal Reserve will likely continue making decisions based on incoming data, rather than rushing to lower rates. For investors in stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, her emphasis on both controlling inflation and preventing economic damage highlights the Fed’s careful approach to navigating between rising prices and a potential recession.

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2026-05-29 20:51