Fed’s Evans predicts 'robust discussions' at Fed's June meeting

Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans is now crossing the wires, making a scheduled speech in London.

Key Quotes:

There is "reasonable case" to be made for deferring rate hikes until core inflation reaches the FED's goal of 2 percent

Sees downside risks to his forecasts for 2-percent GDP growth and for inflation to reach the FED's 2-percent goal within three years

Base case for appropriate policy is still to raise rates twice by the end of 2016

I’m really of two minds at the moment, expect to take this quandary with me into the next meeting

Keeping rates at current 0.25-0.50 pct range until core inflation reaches 2 pct also has "some attraction"

Doesn’t see core or total inflation rising to 2 pct for another three years, core inflation to end year at 1.6 pct

Predicts 'robust discussions' at FED's June meeting

Expects GDP at 2-2.5% for the rest of 2016

Jobless rate seen between 4.5-4.75% by end 2017