San Francisco Federal Reserve President John Williams

Speaking with USA Today

(h/t Livesquawk)

  • Says there's a "very strong case" for the Fed to raise interest rates next month
  • If the economy continues to improve and policymakers are confident that inflation will pick up
  • "Assuming the data are consistent with those (conditions), I think there's a very strong case for starting the process of raising interest rates" at the Fed's Dec. 15-16 meeting

OK, so he's covered the "if" ... i.e if the data supports it

Does he cover the 'gradual' base too?

  • "The next natural step...is to start raising rates and to do that gradually."

Yep, there it is!

Is it just my perception, or is Williams more of a Mr. (or Mrs.) Flip Flop on the Fed than anyone else?

Here's what I had from him most recently: Fed's Williams: Will "wait and see on" on data between now and December FOMC