Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard mentioned Thursday that rates of interest want to stay excessive, though there are indicators inflation is beginning to ease.

Echoing latest feedback from her fellow policymakers, Brainard insisted that the Fed will not waiver in its dedication to taming costs which have come down some in latest months however stay close to four-decade highs.

“Even with the latest moderation, inflation stays excessive, and coverage will have to be sufficiently restrictive for a while to verify inflation returns to 2% on a sustained foundation,” she mentioned in remarks ready for a speech in Chicago.

Her feedback come lower than two weeks earlier than the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee holds its subsequent assembly, on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Markets are assigning a near-100% chance that the FOMC will elevate its benchmark rate of interest one other quarter share level, taking it to a goal vary of 4.5%-4.75%, in keeping with CME Group information.

That, nonetheless, would symbolize one other less-severe step within the Fed’s transfer to tighten financial coverage. As Brainard put it, the FOMC in December “downshifted” the extent of its price will increase to half some extent, after three consecutive will increase of three-quarters of a share level.

“It will allow us to evaluate extra information as we transfer the coverage price nearer to a sufficiently restrictive degree, making an allowance for the dangers round our dual-mandate objectives,” she mentioned.

Brainard pointed to quite a lot of areas the place she sees inflation beginning to come down.

She famous weaker numbers not too long ago in retail gross sales and wages, and expressed doubt that the economic system is seeing a Nineteen Seventies-style wage-price spiral the place larger earnings maintain pushing costs larger and vice versa.

In accordance with the Fed’s most popular measure, private consumption expenditures costs excluding meals and power, inflation has been working at a 3.1% annualized tempo over the past three months, nicely under the 4.5% 12-month tempo. That is nonetheless forward of the Fed’s 2% objective, however reflective of some progress.

Housing prices stay excessive, however Brainard and different Fed officers count on these to ease later within the 12 months as condominium leases meet up with declines in industrial actual property. Client surveys of late additionally present that whereas inflation expectations stay elevated within the close to time period, they’re extra steady additional out.

“Collectively, the value tendencies in core items and nonhousing companies, the tentative indications of some deceleration in wages, the proof of anchored expectations, and the scope for margin compression might present some reassurance that we aren’t presently experiencing a Nineteen Seventies-style wage-price spiral,” Brainard mentioned.

Regardless of robust discuss from Fed officers on charges, markets suppose the central financial institution will fall in need of the 5.1% peak within the fed funds price that they pointed to in December. As an alternative, merchants see the speed topping out a few quarter share level under that, and the Fed beginning to scale back charges later this 12 months.

Brainard gave no indication that charges can be coming down anytime quickly.

“Inflation is excessive, and it’ll take time and resolve to get it again right down to 2%. We’re decided to remain the course,” she mentioned.