US Fed plans term deposits for banks to mop up inflation
By Jeannine Aversa |
December 30, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Federal Reserve has proposed allowing banks to set up the equivalent of certificates of deposit at the central bank, a move that would help the Fed mop up money pumped into the United States economy and prevent inflation from taking off later.
Under the proposal, the Fed would offer so-called "term deposits" that would pay interest. Doing so would provide banks with another incentive to park their money at the Fed, rather than having it flow back into the economy.
The proposal comes as no surprise. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and other Fed officials have repeatedly said the creation of so-called "term deposits" ? essentially the equivalent of CDs for banks ? would be one of several tools the Fed could use to drain money from the economy when the time is right.
The Fed said on Monday the proposal "has no implications for monetary policy decisions in the near term."
With both the economy and the financial system on the mend, the Fed this year started to wind down and scale back some emergency lending programs. Lending conditions have improved but still aren't back to normal. They continue to restrain the economic recovery.
The Fed's balance sheet has ballooned to US$2.2 trillion, reflecting the creation of lending programs intended to ease the financial crisis. That's more than double the pre-crisis level. The Fed will need to mop up that money or it could trigger inflation down the road.
The Fed proposed that the interest rate paid on the term deposit be set through an auction mechanism.
Banks wanting to hold a term deposit would bid in regularly scheduled competitive auctions.
Under the scheme, the banks would indicate both the interest rate at which they are willing to be paid and the amount of money they want to deposit into the account at that interest rate, likely for one to six months.
Under the proposal, the Fed would offer so-called "term deposits" that would pay interest. Doing so would provide banks with another incentive to park their money at the Fed, rather than having it flow back into the economy.
The proposal comes as no surprise. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and other Fed officials have repeatedly said the creation of so-called "term deposits" ? essentially the equivalent of CDs for banks ? would be one of several tools the Fed could use to drain money from the economy when the time is right.
The Fed said on Monday the proposal "has no implications for monetary policy decisions in the near term."
With both the economy and the financial system on the mend, the Fed this year started to wind down and scale back some emergency lending programs. Lending conditions have improved but still aren't back to normal. They continue to restrain the economic recovery.
The Fed's balance sheet has ballooned to US$2.2 trillion, reflecting the creation of lending programs intended to ease the financial crisis. That's more than double the pre-crisis level. The Fed will need to mop up that money or it could trigger inflation down the road.
The Fed proposed that the interest rate paid on the term deposit be set through an auction mechanism.
Banks wanting to hold a term deposit would bid in regularly scheduled competitive auctions.
Under the scheme, the banks would indicate both the interest rate at which they are willing to be paid and the amount of money they want to deposit into the account at that interest rate, likely for one to six months.
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