Comments from Cleveland Fed President Mester:

  • Benefits of beginning rate hikes will soon outweigh benefits of delaying
  • Gradual rate rises would not derail economic expansion
  • Soft Q1 data likely transitory
  • Expects about 3% avg economic growth from Q2 through the end of 2016
  • Reasonably confident inflation will rise to 2% goal by late 2016
  • Economy nearing full employment

Mester is a hawk so her comments don't come as a big surprise.