logo
episode-header-image
May 19
26m 58s

How should central banks respond to US t...

Financial Times
About this episode

US tariffs have sent financial markets into a frenzy in recent weeks, but how much should central bankers be taking trade into account when setting monetary policy? To find out, Soumaya Keynes sits down with Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Swati Dhingra – one of the committee’s more dovish members. They discuss why the UK’s open economy makes it more vulnerable to trade shocks, what Dhingra saw in the data that her MPC colleagues didn’t, and why she didn’t vote for an (even) sharper rate cut earlier this month.


Further reading:

Two BoE policymakers warn against rushing to further cut interest rates

Bank of England vote split hits hopes for faster interest rate cuts

Brexit lessons for Trump’s trade war


Subscribe to The Economics Show on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen. 

Presented by Soumaya Keynes. Produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Original music and sound design by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: your questions answered
In the sixth of this six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman tackle a selection of questions, and even some criticisms, sent in by their audience. Listen to Paul Krugman’s cultural co ... Show More
43m 35s
Jul 2
The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: The future of the postwar system
In the fifth of this six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the way American politics is crashing against both the guardrails of a stable, democratic system and the rules and ... Show More
44m 3s
Jun 24
The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: AI hype vs reality
In the fourth of this six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman ask if advances in artificial intelligence will reshape the working world as we know it. Or are we hearing an old familia ... Show More
41m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 12
Swamp Notes: The Federal Reserve’s tariff dilemma
US President Donald Trump’s global trade war has made a mess for the Federal Reserve. Despite an encouraging US consumer price index report this week, there are major concerns about the inflationary nature of Trump’s tariffs. Meanwhile, the Fed has cut growth forecasts. And if al ... Show More
17m 49s
Feb 2025
Why should the left care about central banks?
The price of your food shop rocketed because of inflation and now your mortgage is going up hundreds of pounds because the Bank of England decided to increase interest rates. You might be struggling to make ends meet and wondering why our central bank has made your life more diff ... Show More
38 m
Sep 2024
Fed-letter day: at last, a rate cut
The first reduction in interest rates for four years shows America’s Federal Reserve thinks inflation is now in check. But does the central bank’s decision suggest it is now concerned about the labour market? Ukraine wants its allies to provide long-range missiles (9:50). Our cor ... Show More
25m 31s
Aug 2024
Instant Reaction: Will the Fed Cut Quicker After This Selloff?
Global stock markets tumbled as concerns about a US economic slowdown intensified. Traders ramped up bets that the Federal Reserve will step in with an emergency interest rate cut. For instant reaction to this selloff, and how Fed officials will respond, Bloomberg's Nathan Hager ... Show More
6m 6s
Sep 2024
Fed-letter day: at last, a rate cut
The first reduction in interest rates for four years shows America’s Federal Reserve thinks inflation is now in check. But does the central bank’s decision suggest it is now concerned about the labour market? Ukraine wants its allies to provide long-range missiles (9:50). Our cor ... Show More
25m 31s
Sep 2024
Was a 50-basis-point cut too aggressive a move too soon?
The Federal Reserve's interest rate cut was a long time coming, the first rate reduction since 2020. But what was a 50-basis-point cut too aggressive a move too soon as Fed Chair Jerome Powell assures that the central bank is not behind the curve?Takeaways Stock futures (ES=F, NQ ... Show More
55m 6s
Sep 2024
The Fed takes bold action: cutting rates from a position of strength
In a surprise move, the Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.5%, kicking off its first easing cycle since the pandemic began. But unlike previous rate cuts, this decision is not a response to economic weakness – instead, it's a proactive bid to prevent future ... Show More
16m 4s
Dec 2024
What 2024 taught central bankers
The Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by a quarter-point but signals a slower pace of easing, and we look back at what central banks learned in 2024. The US Supreme Court says it will hear TikTok’s appeal against a divest-or-ban law, and Honda-Nissan talks aim to rescue Japan’s ... Show More
10m 12s
Jun 19
The Fed cuts US economic outlook
The Federal Reserve cut its outlook for the US economy on Wednesday, and in the UK, inflation remains higher than ideal. Plus, Big Tech companies are lobbying for a decade-long ban on AI regulations, and the Israel-Iran conflict has hit the global supply chain. Mentioned in this ... Show More
10m 36s