Yesterday the Fed hiked rates. It wasn’t exactly a surprise. For gold and silver investors it was yet another great opportunity to remind ourselves why we invest in gold bars or buy silver coins – because central banks are predictable.

They do not have perfect economic knowledge, they do not create long-term value and they are always reacting to the consequences of their poor decisions. Of course, gold and silver are in high demand right now – precious metals are one of the few remaining ways to keep out of the way of central banks' decisions and to protect your wealth. 

The Federal Reserve raised the fed funds rate by a further 75 basis points to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%, as expected this week. And the statement had hints of a possible pivot – or slowing of rate increases. 

Citing the slowing of global activity and mentioning “the committee will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy, the lags with which monetary policy affects economic activity and inflation, and financial developments”, the Fed gave faint hope to bond and equity investors. Markets took the statement as a dovish sign and rallied. Gold rallied too, for a moment. 

But then in what one Bloomberg commentator called a ’bait and switch’….  “Like a reproving parent, the Federal Reserve chairman quickly put the kibosh on any budding euphoria his comments about monitoring the lagged effect of interest rate policy might have provoked.”

Powell then went on to reiterate that “rates are going up” adding “probably more than people thought.”

Moreover, after the initial surge markets sank – to finish far lower. The S&P 500 index surged 1% – then closed the day down 2.5% – its steepest drop since mid-October. 

Markets are looking for central banks to pivot to easier policy. We think they will do next year as economic growth weakens and unemployment surges, but we also propose that there is an additional pivot on the horizon which is far more important for our readers – that the inflation target rate itself will ‘pivot’ higher.

Please take a moment to reread our primer on inflation target rates from May 26 – Did Central Banks arrive at their Target Inflation Rate by Mere Fluke? As economic activity wanes, house prices fall, equity markets drop and mortgage rates rise – we remind readers that the 2% rate inflation target was set by a fluke.

Central bankers are, of course, denying that they are even thinking about doubling the inflation target from 2% to 4% – but central bankers change their messaging often. Remember it was last year at this time rates were still at near zero and central banks were trying to convince the world that high inflation rates were completely ‘transitory’ and we would be back to 2% levels by now.  

A higher target inflation rate could end up being the central banker's ‘get out of jail free card’. It enables central banks to pause rate hikes while inflation remains high as economic activity weakens and housing prices fall. It also benefits governments by inflating away some of the massive debt loads that have built up through years of overspending.

Additionally, this pivot could play out as a ‘temporary’ increase in the inflation target rate. Again, going back to last year, central banks were also proclaiming the message that inflation could run above the target for some time since it had been below the inflation target for many years.

Some inflationary pressures have abated – supply chains are being restored for example. However, others are long-lasting new policies, such as ‘friend-shoring’ aka protectionist policies. Also, no matter the name, the resulting higher prices are a new reality.

Another source of higher inflation for years to come is the move to renewable and sustainable energy. New price hikes are coming as the technologies are developed but the commodities needed are in short supply.     

One might ask why governments would support central banks increasing the targeted rate of inflation. The simple answer: governments like to spend more than they have which has led to massive debt levels. One way to reduce these massive debt levels is higher inflation!

The only other way to reduce debt levels is financial repression and austerity. The problem with austerity is that governments choosing this route are quickly voted out of office. See our post from March 4 Central Banks Still Do “Whatever It Takes”! for more on government options for reducing massive debt levels.

Bottom line: The Fed Still Has No Idea What’s Coming Next, which was the headline of our March post after the Fed raised the fed funds rate for the first time this year.

Finally, we remind readers that no central banker can inflate five pounds of gold into ten pounds of gold. Paper currency is inflated at a pace controlled by the government. One of the best reasons to own physical metals is to store wealth outside a system that is built on debt and government promises.

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