MNI BRIEF: Fed's Bostic Hopeful For Full Employment in 2022

Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said Thursday that he is expecting a pick-up in growth this year but the jury is out on how coming fiscal spending will change inflation, even as there is hope that full employment can be reached in 2022.

"I'm not expecting us to be there [at full employment] by the end of this calendar year and I'm hopeful that sometime in 2022 we'll be nearing that level," he said. "We have a ways to go." Bostic said he remains focused on seeing broad gains in the job market.

The Atlanta Fed chief told reporters after a speech that he has taken note of market speculation on Fed moves. "I am always concerned about speculation that can emerge," he said. "We're at a very transitional period right now, and I think it's important that we prevent that kind of speculation from potentially undermining the momentum that we've built."