US Fed chair says inflation is elevated and ‘concerning’

Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh emphasized during a recent meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that high inflation rates in the United States are both concerning and a primary focus for the central bank. In his prepared remarks, Warsh stated that figures on price stability were particularly troubling, adding that it would be difficult to describe the current financial conditions as restrictive.

The U.S. central bank has failed to meet its long-term 2% inflation target for over five years, with the latest measure of its preferred inflation gauge coming in at 3.7% this week. Warsh highlighted that the central bank's main priority should be ensuring underlying inflation moves toward its objective at a sufficient pace. Despite holding interest rates steady through 2026, some policymakers have advocated for rate hikes to tackle inflation, which has been heightened by factors such as the Trump administration's conflict with Iran and tariff policies.

Warsh, however, noted several positive aspects in his economic outlook, including strong performance in business capital expenditures, corporate earnings, and consumer spending. Unemployment remains relatively stable at 4.1%, consistent with full employment. The Fed chair also touched upon the impact of Artificial Intelligence technology on the U.S. economy, describing this as a historic turning point.

Interestingly, Warsh's speech did not address the central bank's independence, which has come under scrutiny by Trump during his presidency.