ICYMI – Retiring Chicago Fed President Evans sees path for slower pace of rate rises

The Wall Street Journal (gated) had the piece late last week ICYMI. Comments from soon to retire Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans.

• “The Fed is in a good spot having stepped down to a 50-basis-point increase in December”
• “If they step it down again to 25 basis points that allows a little more time – as they continue to increase the funds rate to the same point that I was expecting – to let the data evolve”

Friday’s NFP result may be the sort of Goldilocks data the Federal Reserve is looking for … mmmm emphasis on maybe:

• US December non-farm payrolls +223K vs +200K expected
• The market mood improves further after Timiraos highlights better wage picture

Later data wasn’t so Goldilocks, a dire result on ISM: