Fed's Mester:Not Convinced Weak Infl Should Delay Hikes -Press

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta

Mester said in an interview published Wednesday that softer recent inflation

readings has not convinced her the Fed should delay plans for further interest

rate hikes.

     "I'm not one who would like to see inflation be at 2 percent before we

continue on the path" of higher rates, she told Reuters. "We have to be

cognizant of the fact that the Fed has to move before we get to both of our

goals." 

     Risks to the Federal Open Market Committee's outlook for three rate hikes

this year are "balanced," Mester said. She does not vote on the FOMC this year. 

     Businesses are facing an improving global economy as well as uncertainty

over the Trump administration's policies, she said, though that uncertainty has

yet to feed through into the growth outlook. 

--MNI Washington Bureau; +1 202-371-2121; email: jean.yung@marketnews.com

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