Loretta Mester, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, speaking on monetary policy at Princeton University

  • Sees further US interest rate hikes 'this year and next'
  • Gradual tightening meant to avoid US overheating, better positions fed for risks
  • Tariffs, Nafta renegotiation pose risks to otherwise good US economic outlook
  • Fiscal stimulus estimated to boost GDP by 0.5% over next couple years, could be more
  • Sees a bit more than 2.5% GDP growth in 2018, 2019
  • Sees more slack in labor market, expects unemployment to fall below 4% through 2019

Quick headlines via Reuters

If anything Mester appears a little restrained in these comments, not quite as gung ho on rate rises as she has sometimes been. I wouldn't say it shift the needle on where she stands on the dove-hawk FOMC spectrum, but just a little more wariness than usual from her.

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There will be an audience Q&A to follow

Mester is a voter on the FOMC this year

If you'd like a full list of who votes and who doesn't this year, its here: