3 Ways the Federal Reserve Impacts Your Money

1. The Fed’s rate Decisions Influence on Your Portfolio or Retirement Accounts

Low borrowing rates often mean well for investments as they encourage risk-taking among investors seeking to offset modest returns from bonds and fixed income. Conversely, the prospect of higher rates can instigate market unease. This reaction is, in part, intentional, as the U.S. central bank strategically withdraws liquidity from the markets during rate hikes, leading to portfolio adjustments and increased volatility among investors. 

The rise in rates can trigger concerns among market participants that the Federal Reserve may adopt an overly aggressive stance, potentially stifling economic growth and pushing the economy into a recession. These apprehensions had a significant impact on stocks in 2022, with the S&P 500 recording its most challenging performance since 2008.

Given the inherent fluctuations in markets, maintaining a long-term perspective is crucial and avoiding impulsive reactions is advisable. When the Federal Reserve raises rates, it is primarily to ensure that the financial system doesn’t overheat by growing too rapidly. Additionally, declining stock prices can present significant buying opportunities for individuals looking to strengthen their portfolios with long-term investments. 

2. The Fed has a Major Influence on Your Purchasing Power 

The Fed’s decisions on interest rates extend beyond merely influencing the cost of borrowing and the returns on savings; they wield a pervasive impact on the overall economy. For consumers, this influence extends to their purchasing power. Low interest rates, designed to stimulate economic activity and boost employment, can lead to a surge in demand that outpaces supply which we witnessed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This imbalance can contribute to inflation. 

Elevated Fed interest rates serve as a primary tool to ease inflation, though the immediate effects on consumers are not instantaneous. The Fed lacks the ability to extract oil or increase food production, its role is to temper demand sufficiently to restore equilibrium with supply, curbing the pace of price increases. However, this process can be time-consuming, with research indicating that it may take a full year, if not longer, for the impact of a rate hike to permeate the entire economy. 

Inflation, which spiked to a 40-year high of 9.1 percent in June 2022, has shown improvement. Overall inflation registered at 3.1 percent in November, slightly exceeding the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target. When excluding the more volatile food and energy costs, prices rose by a higher margin of 4 percent, as reported by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index. Bankrate’s third-quarter Economic Indicator poll suggests that 41 percent of economists anticipate prices won’t reach a level considered optimal by the Federal Reserve until 2025. 

 3. The Fed Influences the Job Market

Higher interest rates have a radical impact on various sectors of the economy, with one of the most significant being the job market. Initiatives that appeared financially wise during periods of low-cost borrowing may be delayed, and opportunities that were once viable due to favorable interest rates may no longer be feasible.

This shift doesn’t only affect businesses, it also has implications for workers. As new opportunities diminish, employees may begin to feel a sense of insecurity about their positions. While concerns about a potential recession haven’t yet prevented individuals from changing jobs, some may decide to stay with their current employers.

Certain industries, such as big tech firms including Meta, Amazon, and Lyft, have experienced significant layoffs since the Federal Reserve began raising rates. Data from the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reveals that job cuts in the current year, during the January-November period, are at their highest since 2020.

Jobs & Inflation

While widespread layoffs aren’t reflected in Labor Department data, which continues to show near-record lows, there’s uncertainty about how long this trend will persist. Despite the job market’s current stability, economists in Bankrate’s quarterly poll anticipate an increase in unemployment from the current level of 3.8 percent to 4.5 percent. Additionally, job growth is projected to be nearly six times slower over the next 12 months compared to the previous year.

The interconnected nature of the economy is underscored by the fact that a robust labor market can contribute to inflation. When there’s a disparity between labor demand and supply, companies often raise wages to attract more workers, contributing to inflationary pressures.