If approved by the United States Senate, Michigan State prof Lisa Cook would be the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Core prices jumped 5.5% year over year in the United States, the highest such increase since 1991, driven in part by mismatches between demand and supply
The Fed chair said Tuesday that inflation poses a major threat to the job market
Wages also rose sharply in December, with average hourly pay jumping 4.7%
December minutes show policymakers suggested they could hike three times this year
The accelerated timetable puts the Fed on a path to start raising rates in the first half of next year
Fed officials are expected to forecast two or three rate hikes next year at tomorrow's meeting
The U.S. economy still remains under threat from a spike in inflation, shortages of labour and supplies
Powell also elevated inflation-fighting as a more urgent priority than supporting job growth
For now, omicron hasn't much affected the Fed's economic outlook