Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said a recent patch of weak economic data likely won't throw the U.S. central bank off track for two more interest-rate increases this year.
"There are reasons to think that the first quarter was, again, below what the rest of the year will be," Fischer said Friday in an interview on CNBC.
Asked if two more rate hikes for the year still feels appropriate, Fischer said, "We're feeling that way and so far haven't seen anything to change that."
Fischer also said that major economies around the world have recently shown signs of renewed strength, contributing to an optimistic tone at the ongoing spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund in Washington.
"A large part of the upbeat tone comes from the fact that China is doing better, Europe is doing better," he said. "We're seeing positive changes throughout much of the world."
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