Fed chair Warsh signals 'work to do' on high US inflation

US Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh warned on Friday that high inflation in the United States is a cause for concern and may require action from the central bank to bring it under control. Speaking at a key banking meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Warsh said the economic data was "more concerning" than expected on the price stability side of the Fed's mandate.

He hinted that interest rate hikes could be on the table, but stopped short of confirming his support for such a move. Warsh emphasized that the priority for the central bank should be to ensure underlying inflation moves towards its 2% target at a sufficient pace. The Fed has not met its inflation goal for more than five years, with the latest reading at 3.7%.

Warsh also spoke positively about the overall strength of the US economy, citing improvements in business capital expenditures, corporate earnings, and consumer spending. He highlighted the economy's steady unemployment rate of 4.1% as consistent with full employment. Warsh also discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on the US economy, describing it as a "hinge point in history."

The Fed chair declined to comment on the central bank's independence, which has been under attack from the Trump administration. Analysts welcomed Warsh's speech for providing insight into his views, but warned that reduced transparency could lead to market uncertainty.