Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says fears that the administration’s $1.9 trillion relief bill could trigger a rapid rise in inflation are misplaced.
In an interview on MSNBC on Monday, Yellen said the measure, which will provide $1,400 checks to millions of American along with other assistance, will provide needed relief and help the economy return to full employment by next year.
Asked about concerns by some economists that the measure could rev up the economy too fast and trigger higher inflation, Yellen said, “I The jobless rate in February of last year, before 24 million jobs were lost to the pandemic, stood at a half-century low of 3.5 percent with inflation running well below the Fed’s 2 percent target.
Yellen said inflation was “too low” during that period of very low unemployment.
She said if inflation does become a problem “there are tools to address that” and policymakers will be monitoring the situation closely and will be prepared to act."
https://www.pressherald.com/2021/03/08/yellen-plays-down-inflation-fears-pushes-for-relief-bill/