Fed Should ‘Take Back’ Rate Hike, White House’s Kudlow Says

(Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve should reduce interest rates even though the economy is strong and the latest payrolls report was positive, said Larry Kudlow, President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser.

“They should take back the interest rate hike,” Kudlow said in an interview on Bloomberg Television Friday. “With a weak global economy, taking out an insurance policy is not a bad thing.”

U.S. payrolls increased by 224,000 in June, topping all economist estimates. That led traders to scale back their more aggressive bets on Fed rate cuts this month, though a reduction is still expected by the market.

Read more: Strong U.S. Hiring Rebound Dilutes Case for Larger Fed Rate Cut

The Fed raised interest rates four times last year, with the last increase in December drawing especially heavy criticism from the Trump administration. Fed officials have shifted their outlook since then, and in June they opened the door to a rate cut.

“I’m not encroaching on Fed independence,” said Kudlow. “I’m reading the market tea leaves.”

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