Jerome Powell Quotes

Powerful Jerome Powell for Daily Growth

About Jerome Powell

Jerome H. Powell, born on February 7, 1953, serves as the current Chair of the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States, a position he has held since February 2018. Born in Washington D.C., Powell graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. in politics and later earned his J.D. from Georgetown Law Center. Powell's career spans over three decades, primarily in the financial sector. He started as a lawyer in the private sector before joining the U.S. Department of Treasury, where he served under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Notably, Powell was a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governances from 2012 to 2014, before being appointed as a Vice Chair by President Barack Obama. As the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Powell has been instrumental in overseeing the U.S. economy during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. He is known for his pragmatic approach to policy making and his commitment to maintaining price stability and promoting maximum employment. While not widely recognized for literary works, Powell's speeches and statements, particularly in his role at the Fed, have significant impact on global financial markets. His quotes often reflect a balanced approach to economic management, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, collaboration, and understanding the evolving nature of the economy. One of his notable quotes is, "We will use our tools and act as appropriate to support the economy," which encapsulates his proactive and responsive approach to economic challenges. Powell continues to shape U.S. monetary policy and influence global financial markets in his role at the Federal Reserve.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Inflation is essentially a measure of how fast nominal wages are rising."

This quote by Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, suggests that inflation can be understood as a rate of increase in the general level of prices for goods and services, and it's closely tied to wage growth (nominal wages). In simple terms, when nominal wages rise faster or slower than the overall cost of living, it influences the rate of inflation. A higher rate of wage growth relative to price increases might indicate a lower inflation rate, while the opposite could result in increased inflation.


"We're not trying to boost the economy. We're trying to get inflation back to 2% on a sustained basis."

This quote indicates that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is focusing on maintaining a steady, moderate rate of inflation (specifically 2%) in the U.S. economy over the long term. By doing so, he aims to ensure economic stability and predictability for businesses and households, which fosters sustainable growth and prevents deflation or hyperinflation. The phrase "We're not trying to boost the economy" suggests that the Fed prioritizes inflation control over short-term economic stimulus measures, with a focus on long-term stability rather than temporary growth spikes.


"Interest rates are still quite low by historical standards, and they remain just below the broad range of estimates of their longer-run normal level."

This quote by Jerome Powell suggests that interest rates, as of the time he made this statement, were lower than average historical levels, but not significantly so. He implies that these rates are close to the estimated "normal" or long-term equilibrium level. In practical terms, it means borrowing money is still relatively inexpensive compared to past periods, although it's not cheap when considering longer-term trends. This can stimulate economic growth and spending by making loans more attractive. However, maintaining low interest rates for an extended period may lead to inflationary pressures if economic conditions change unexpectedly.


"The Fed doesn't have a specific inflation target; our dual mandate is price stability and maximum employment."

This quote by Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, indicates that the primary objectives of the U.S. central bank are maintaining price stability (low, stable inflation) and maximizing employment. In other words, the Fed's role is to ensure that the economy grows steadily, without excessive price increases or high unemployment rates. This approach aims to foster economic prosperity and maintain overall financial system stability in the United States.


"We will continue to make progress toward our max employment and price stability goals, and we look forward to the time when we can begin to reduce the size of our balance sheet and raise interest rates."

This quote by Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, implies that the U.S. economy is making progress towards achieving two primary objectives: full employment (max employment) and price stability. Price stability usually refers to a low and stable inflation rate. The Fed aims to balance these goals; maintaining low unemployment without causing excessive inflation. The second part of the quote suggests the Fed's anticipation of a future stage when they can start reducing their monetary stimulus (balance sheet reduction) and raising interest rates, which are typically employed to control inflation and slow down economic growth. This move is a sign of confidence in the economy's resilience and strength.


Mobile devices, high-speed data communication, and online commerce are creating expectations that convenient, secure, real-time payment and banking capabilities should be available whenever and wherever they are needed.

- Jerome Powell

Data, Devices, Capabilities, Available

With customers' permission, fintech firms have increasingly turned to data aggregators to 'screen scrape' information from financial accounts. In such cases, data aggregators collect and store online banking logins and passwords provided by the bank's customers and use them to log directly into the customer's banking account.

- Jerome Powell

Data, Increasingly, Turned, Log

By fostering the economic health and vitality of local communities throughout the country, community banks play a central role in our national economy. One important aspect of that role is to serve as a primary source of credit for the small businesses that are responsible for creating a substantial proportion of all new jobs.

- Jerome Powell

Small, Play, Country, Primary Source

It is worth noting that 'too big to fail' is not simply about size. A big institution is 'too big' when there is an expectation that government will do whatever it takes to rescue that institution from failure, thus bestowing an effective risk premium subsidy. Reforms to end 'too big to fail' must address the causes of this expectation.

- Jerome Powell

Big, Expectation, About, Subsidy

Against this backdrop of technological change and heightened expectations, it is worth remembering our broad public policy objectives, which are driven by the fundamental importance of the payments system in our society.

- Jerome Powell

Against, Which, Backdrop, Public Policy

The Federal Reserve and other central banks have adopted broad public policy objectives to guide the development and oversight of the payments system. At the Fed, we have identified efficiency and safety as our most fundamental objectives, as set forth in our Policy on Payment System Risk.

- Jerome Powell

Other, Fed, Payments, Public Policy

An increase in the debt ceiling should be accompanied by fundamental policy reforms, substantial budget savings, and a strong enforcement mechanism to tie the hands of any future Congress.

- Jerome Powell

Strong, Hands, Congress, Ceiling

Higher capital requirements increase bank costs, and at least some of those costs will be passed along to bank customers and shareholders. But in the longer term, stronger prudential requirements for large banking firms will produce more sustainable credit availability and economic growth.

- Jerome Powell

Some, Sustainable, Capital, Shareholders

Long-term economic growth depends mainly on nonmonetary factors such as population growth and workforce participation, the skills and aptitudes of our workforce, the tools at their disposal, and the pace of technological advance. Fiscal and regulatory policies can have important effects on these factors.

- Jerome Powell

Participation, Regulatory, Population Growth

An efficient payments system provides the infrastructure needed to transfer money in low-cost and convenient ways. Efficient systems are innovative in improving the quality of services in response to changing technology and changing demand.

- Jerome Powell

Needed, Efficient, Payments, Convenient

The banking industry has traditionally been characterized by physical branches, privileged access to financial data, and distinct expertise in analyzing such data.

- Jerome Powell

Access, Been, Characterized, Banking

Liquidity problems can occur in central clearing, even if all counterparties have the financial resources to meet their obligations, if they are unable to convert those resources into cash quickly enough.

- Jerome Powell

Financial, Quickly, Occur, Convert

My colleagues on the Board of Governors and I understand the value of having a diverse financial system that includes a large and vibrant contingent of community banks.

- Jerome Powell

Vibrant, Governors, Having, Contingent

The success of monetary policy should be judged by the economy's performance against our statutory mandates of price stability and maximum employment.

- Jerome Powell

Against, Economy, Monetary, Mandates

A digital currency issued by a central bank would be a global target for cyber attacks, cyber counterfeiting, and cyber theft.

- Jerome Powell

Digital, Theft, Global, Cyber

Alignment of business strategy and risk appetite should minimize the firm's exposure to large and unexpected losses. In addition, the firm's risk management capabilities need to be commensurate with the risks it expects to take.

- Jerome Powell

Minimize, Capabilities, Losses

While the move to central clearing has made the system safer, we need to make sure that the central counterparties have the resources and risk-management practices to withstand plausible but severe shocks.

- Jerome Powell

Need, Move, Sure, Plausible

All economic forecasts are subject to considerable uncertainty. There is always a wide range of plausible outcomes for important economic variables, including the federal funds rate.

- Jerome Powell

Always, Wide Range, Plausible

It is quite plausible that the process of increased fragmentation of production across borders is subject to 'diminishing returns' and has its natural limits.

- Jerome Powell

Process, Diminishing, Plausible

Below-target inflation increases the real value of debts owed by households and businesses and reduces the ability of central banks to respond to downturns.

- Jerome Powell

Real, Banks, Households, Real Value

If the public understands the central bank's views on the economy and monetary policy, then households and businesses will take those views into account in making their spending and investment plans; policy will be more effective as a result.

- Jerome Powell

Bank, Result, Understands, Households

The sale of Treasury bonds, notes, and bills finances the U.S. government, and those securities are, in turn, a primary vehicle for savings for a wide range of U.S. households. Treasury securities are also an important source of collateral within the financial system.

- Jerome Powell

Financial, Notes, Wide Range, Households

Businesses and households react to lower rates by investing and spending more. Lower rates also support the prices of housing and financial assets such as stocks and bonds.

- Jerome Powell

Financial, Housing, More, Households

Long experience, in the United States and in other advanced economies, has demonstrated that monetary policy is most successful when decisions are rendered independent of influence by elected officials.

- Jerome Powell

Other, United States, Decisions

My own experience is that the best outcomes are reached when opposing viewpoints are clearly and strongly presented before decisions are made.

- Jerome Powell

My Own, Opposing, Before, Decisions

If investors avoid the Treasury market, we could be unable to pay off maturing securities, which would mean an immediate default. Market participants generally agree that even a brief default would create potentially catastrophic risks to the financial system, like the meltdown of 2008.

- Jerome Powell

Financial, Investors, Maturing

As long as global financial conditions normalize in an orderly fashion, EMEs should have sufficient time to adjust.

- Jerome Powell

Financial, Adjust, Orderly

The revenue stream for Social Security benefits comes from payroll taxes, which are credited to the Social Security Trust Fund - accounting for the program's finances separately from the rest of the budget.

- Jerome Powell

Trust, Benefits, Which, Budget

Bailouts may have been more tolerable in the early 1990s when they were rare and their use for a failing bank was uncertain. That is no longer the case.

- Jerome Powell

More, Been, May, Tolerable

Regulatory changes have forced banks to closely examine their liquidity planning and to internalize the costs of liquidity provision. The costs of committed liquidity facilities will be passed on to clearing members. These costs are perhaps highest in clearing Treasury securities, where liquidity needs can be especially large.

- Jerome Powell

Regulatory, Examine, Forced, Treasury

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