Fed’s Barkin: Current Data Shows No Urgent Reason to Cut Rates

Federal Reserve’s Barkin stated that current data does not indicate an urgent need for rate cuts, as the job market and consumer spending remain robust. The final direction of trade policy has yet to be determined, and it is unclear how it will affect prices and employment. Businesses expect to raise prices later this year, as more high-priced imported goods have entered their inventories. Companies not affected by tariffs see the turmoil in trade policy as an opportunity to increase prices.