Comments by Jerome Powell, the US Federal Reserve Governor, yesterday evening:- - I feel much better about where I stand politically. - The US economy is in remarkably good shape. - The same institutional relations between the Fed and the Treasury Department will continue under the new administration. - Part of the Fed's independence is that it is self-funded. - This independence gives us the ability to make the best decisions. - The economy is in good shape and there is no reason why it should not continue. - Growth is stronger than we thought in September and inflation came out a little higher. - It seems that the downside risks are lower in the labor market. - We can afford to be careful in finding neutrality.
