Richmond Fed Barkin
  • US debt level is a concern in the long term
  • Worried price pressure could get 'stuck' next year
  • Sees two further quarter-point cuts this year as a 'reasonable path' if economy evolves as expected
  • Expects unemployment and inflation to stay roughly stable for the rest of this year
  • Sees renewed tight labor and demand spurred by Fed rate cuts as possibly keeping inflation lodged above 2% next year
  • Current rate cuts a proper recalibration of policy, but full normalization would require inflation to hit 2%

Translation: He's willing to cut for awhile but won't cut to 3.00-3.50% until inflation hits 2%. Given the cadence of Fed cuts, there is plenty of time to cut before we get there.