Fed’s Waller says central bank at ample reserves level

Published 16/10/2025, 14:50
Fed’s Waller says central bank at ample reserves level

Investing.com -- Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller stated Thursday that the central bank has reached what it considers an ample reserve level, suggesting limited room for further balance sheet reduction.

Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event, Waller said, "We’re basically back to where we think we should be" regarding the necessary level of reserves in the financial system following the drawdown of bond holdings.

Waller indicated that the Fed’s next major decision regarding its balance sheet will focus on the composition of its holdings rather than further reduction.

The Fed governor also addressed several other monetary policy topics, noting that immigration shifts are changing how the central bank views the job market. He pointed out that labor supply issues may be masking weakness in labor demand, describing the simultaneous decline in both labor supply and demand as "very rare."

On Fed communications, Waller expressed support for officials actively speaking to the public and said there is "nothing wrong" with dissenting votes among Federal Open Market Committee members.

Regarding Fed forecasts, Waller shared personal doubts about whether the central bank should continue publishing its Summary of Economic Projections (SEP). He noted there is "lots of space to change Fed forecasts" and suggested it "would be good for Fed to refrain from long run forecasts."

Waller also defined the real neutral rate of interest, known as r-star, as "the return on liquid government debt."

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