[Federal Reserve's Bullard: Further Rate Hikes May Be Needed in the Next 6 to 9 Months] BlockBeats News, October 9 – James Bullard, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, stated that the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates again to push inflation back to the 2% target level. He mentioned that in order to achieve the inflation target within a 'timely' timeframe, monetary policy needs to be further tightened. Bullard indicated that if 'timely' means approximately 18 months, interest rates may need to be raised further at an appropriate time within the next 6 to 9 months. He noted that inflation remains the primary issue facing the U.S. economy, but with strong economic growth and a stable labor market, the Federal Reserve may be able to reduce inflation without significantly harming employment. When asked whether interest rates should be raised at the October 27-28 FOMC meeting, Bullard said he remains open-minded and has not yet made a prediction about the meeting's outcome, but the inflation situation requires policymakers to continue considering further tightening measures. Bullard also stated that although U.S. Treasury yields have risen significantly, financial conditions remain accommodative and continue to support economic growth. He explained that the rise in yields does not indicate a loss of confidence in the Federal Reserve by investors but rather reflects market expectations of higher real interest rates and intensified capital competition in a strong economic environment.