By Ann Saphir

(Reuters) – Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans indicated Monday that he wouldn’t necessarily object to interest rates being raised to neutral levels of 2.25%-2.5% by year-end. This pace would be required to allow for a few 50-basis-point rate increases at upcoming Fed meeting.

Evans stated that fifty is a worthy goal. “It’s possible even to reach neutral in December,” Evans said to the Detroit Economic Club. “I believe it’s important to not go too fast, and so my focus would be on the goal of where we are at the end.