MNI BRIEF: Evans Brings Forward Fed Rate Liftoff View to 2023

Chicago President Charles Evans on Monday brought forward his preference for a Federal Reserve rate liftoff to 2023 from 2024, calling for a gradual tightening from there as inflation looks set to hold around 2%.

"The economy will be on a stronger footing and hopefully we'll be looking at an environment where we can be looking to remove" some rate stimulus, he told reporters, adding the key is making sure the public buys into the Fed's longer-term inflation goals. "In that eventuality, raising rates in late 2023 is appropriate. And it's a very gradual increase."

Tapering asset purchases can likely go ahead as long as coming job reports "continue to be in line with good momentum" to establishing a "vibrant labor market" next year, Evans said. Officials never intended to keep up QE until maximum employment was reached, he said.