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Commodity prices, the term structure of interest rates, and exchange rates: useful indicators for monetary policy?

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  • Jeffrey C. Fuhrer

Abstract

Effective conduct of monetary policy requires accurate and timely indications of the current and future course of the ultimate targets of monetary policy. It is widely agreed that the monetary aggregates no longer provide reliable signals of inflation or of real activity. It is less widely agreed which variable or variables should replace the aggregates, or how they would be used in conducting monetary policy. This article considers whether the slope of the term structure of interest rates, commodity prices, and the exchange rate could be suitable replacements for the aggregates. The author finds that on both theoretical and empirical grounds, the proposed indicators would be neither straightforward nor reliable guides to monetary policy. On theoretical grounds, the indicators would be difficult to interpret because the sign and magnitude of their correlations with ultimate targets depend critically upon the monetary policy regime in effect. Empirically, the study finds that no single indicator bears a stable and statistically reliable relationship to the current or future course of a monetary policy target.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey C. Fuhrer, 1993. "Commodity prices, the term structure of interest rates, and exchange rates: useful indicators for monetary policy?," New England Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, issue Nov, pages 18-32.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedbne:y:1993:i:nov:p:18-32
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    File URL: http://www.bostonfed.org/economic/neer/neer1993/neer693b.pdf
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    6. Fuhrer, Jeff & Moore, George, 1992. "Monetary policy rules and the indicator properties of asset prices," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 303-336, April.
    7. Jeffrey C. Fuhrer, 1993. "What role does consumer sentiment play in the U.S. macroeconomy?," New England Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, issue Jan, pages 32-44.
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    2. Rossiter, R. D., 1995. "Monetary policy indicators after deregulation," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 207-223.
    3. Galindo, Luis M., 1995. "La hipótesis de expectativas en el mercado de Cetes en México," Estudios Económicos, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos, vol. 10(1), pages 67-88.
    4. Christine Sauer & Joachim Scheide, 1995. "Money, Interest Rate Spreads, and Economic Activity," CESifo Working Paper Series 83, CESifo.
    5. Carlos David Ardila-Dueñas & Hernán Rincón-Castro, 2019. "¿Cómo y qué tanto impacta la deuda pública a las tasas de interés de mercado?," Borradores de Economia 1077, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.

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