Analysis-‘Worst case’ inflation fears threaten bond market calm as Powell addresses lawmakers

An uneasy calm that has pervaded the U.S. bond market could break in coming days, as looming data on employment and consumer prices shed more light on how long the Federal Reserve might need to keep rates elevated in its battle to decisively defeat inflation. While investors still expect rate cuts this year, unexpected economic strength has forced many to recalibrate how deeply the Fed will be able to lower borrowing costs without reigniting inflation, aligning the market’s views on easing more closely with those of the central bank. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell echoed that sentiment on Wednesday, when he told lawmakers that continued progress on lowering inflation "is not assured" though the central bank still expects to cut rates in 2024.