Susan M. Collins, President & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, addressed the 25th Annual Regional & Community Bankers Conference, discussing the national economy, monetary policy, and banking conditions in New England.
Collins emphasized the economy’s resilience but cautioned about the risks of persistently elevated inflation. She noted the recent Federal Open Market Committee decision to raise the federal funds rate and hinted at further rate hikes before the end of the year. However, she stressed that this would depend on incoming data and its impact on her economic outlook.
Collins also highlighted the value of regional Reserve Banks conducting research and engaging with stakeholders through events like the conference. This “regional rootedness,” she said, helps the Fed better understand current conditions and future expectations, which she and other regional Reserve Bank presidents bring to the monetary policymaking table in Washington.