Various assessments emerge ahead of Fed′s rate decision IMF ″미국， 확실한 물가상승

All eyes and ears are on the U.S. Federal Reserve as it deliberates on whether to raise rates for the first time in more than nine years. More people are offering their opinion as the big meeting approaches in mid－December， but Fed chief Janet Yellen is keeping her stance to herself. Sohn Jung－in reports. The International Monetary Fund has suggested the U.S. Federal Reserve take a more cautious approach before deciding to raise interest rates. In a report， the IMF said the Federal Open Market Committee should delay a rate hike until they see clear signs of inflation rising toward its two percent target. Citing prolonged global financial uncertainties， the report expressed concerns a rate increase could cause financial volatility and abrupt changes in emerging market capital flows. Fed Chair Janet Yellen， who has been calling for a gradual increase， showed a rather neutral stance this time. Speaking at a Fed Board conference in Washington on Thursday， Yellen did not address the current policy outlook. She only stressed that policymakers must be mindful of the effects that post－crisis financial regulations can have on the global economy. ″It′s crucial to understand the effect of regulations and possible changes in financial intermediation on monetary policy implementation and transmission.″ But some senior Fed officials are shifting toward possible liftoff. Regional Fed presidents James Bullard and Jeffrey Lacker said the central bank no longer needed to keep rates near zero as U.S. inflation was near the Fed′s goal. Bullard predicted a strong labor market with the unemployment rate dropping to the four percent range. Other global economists are growing more confident the Fed will start upping the rate next month. A poll by the Wall Street Journal found that more than 90 percent of economists believe a hike will be announced at the Fed′s December policy meeting. Sohn Jung－in， Arirang News.