Why Markets May Be Pricing in Too Many Fed Rate Hikes

Markets may be pricing in more tightening by the Federal Reserve than is warranted due to a divergence playing out in the economy, according to Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman and former Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan. In the Goldman Sachs Exchanges podcast, Kaplan notes that while artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and defense spending are continuing to boom, interest-rate sensitive parts of the economy, such as housing and autos, are already straining under higher rates. Taken together, these crosscurrents are creating a more muted response from the Fed. Key takeaways: The Fed may still hike, but not much: Kaplan expects the Fed to raise rates one more time to bring rates to roughly 4%–4.25%, then pause to reassess. The markets, however, are pricing in more hikes, which Kaplans attributes to a risk premium from investors that may be related to uncertainties over oil prices and how Fed Chairman Warsh would adjust policy in reaction to economic data. The neutral rate still matters: Kaplan says this policy rate, while not the “be all,” is still relevant. Kaplan thinks another rate hike would probably push Fed policy above the neutral rate and be “slightly restrictive” for the economy. A shock without a playbook: Kaplan describes an economy with a "low fire, low hire" labor market where tariffs, immigration-driven labor constraints, and an oil shock are coinciding with a historic capex boom—a supply-side setup with no textbook precedent. That shock is forcing the Fed to focus on containing the "bleed" of inflation into other goods, he says. Date of recording: September 22, 2026 The opinions and views expressed herein are as of the date of publication, subject to change without notice, and may not necessarily reflect the institutional views of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates. The material provided is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice, a recommendation from any Goldman Sachs entity to take any particular action or be used as a basis for any other investment decision, or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities or financial products. Any forward-looking statements, case studies, computations or examples set forth herein are for illustrative purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any of its affiliates make any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or information contained herein and disclaim any liability whatsoever for reliance on such information for any purpose. Each name of a third-party organization mentioned is the property of the company to which it relates, is used here strictly for informational and identification purposes only and is not used to imply any sponsorship, affiliation, endorsement, ownership or license rights between any such company and Goldman Sachs. This material should not be copied, distributed, published, or reproduced in whole or in part or disclosed by any recipient to any other person without the express written consent of Goldman Sachs. A transcript is provided for convenience and may differ from the original video or audio content. Goldman Sachs is not responsible for any errors in the transcript. © 2026 Goldman Sachs. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices