MNI BRIEF: Williams Says Fed Has Time To Wait For More Data

A strong economy means the Federal Reserve does not need to be in a rush to make any imminent decisions about the future path of interest rates, New York Fed President John Williams said Thursday.

“Our monetary policy is currently well positioned, but we have also the time and ability, given where the economy is, to collect more data, analyze what the data are telling us and then make an appropriate policy decision at the right time,” Williams said at a press briefing following remarks to the Economic Club of New York. (See MNI INTERVIEW: Demand Boom Keeps Fed Patient For Longer)

What's changed in the outlook in recent months is the disinflation process seen the second half of last year "has slowed," and "the resilience of the economy, which is quite remarkable," he said.