The inflation objective is explicitly a long-term or medium term objective. It focuses on, for example, core inflation to avoid getting involved in short-term fluctuations in energy prices and the like.
Consumers going through foreclosure typically will see their credit scores drop, raising longer-term questions about their ability to rebound financially and perhaps pursue a more sustainable home purchase at some later point.
Inflation is up, driven by energy prices. Underlying core rates remain low, which is encouraging.
As we look ahead, core inflation appears likely to remain in the zone of price stability during the remainder of 2004 and into 2005,