Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin spoke on Wednesday about the Fed's recent moves on rates, and cautioned that the fight on inflation may not be over as risks remain.
Key highlights
50 BPS rate cut in September was warranted because rates were 'out of sync’ with decline in inflation and the unemployment rate near its sustainable level.
The Fed can't declare inflation battle over. I expect little further drop in Core PCE Price Index until next year.
50 BPS of cuts shown as the median Fed policymaker projection for the rest of this year would also take a little bit of the edge off rates.
I am watching closely how lower interest rates influence home and auto sales to see if demand risks outrunning supply.
Recent labor action and geopolitical conflict are also among inflation risks.
Whilst low-hiring, low-firing labor market could persist, demand for workers could also move higher if demand expands.
The pace and extent of rate-reduction cycle requires Fed to be attentive to how economy and inflation develop.
Fed rate cuts are to recalibrate to a less restrictive position.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks

Gold rises above $3,400 on rising Middle East tensions
Gold price rises to over five-month highs near $3,425 during the Asian trading hours on Friday. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts provide some support to the precious metal.

AUD/USD weakens amid anti-risk flow; bearish USD could limit losses
AUD/USD drifts lower on Friday, although it remains confined within a multi-week-old trading range below the YTD high. Trade-related uncertainties and rising tensions in the Middle East weigh on investors' sentiment and the risk-sensitive Aussie. The downside, however, seems limited amid the USD slump to a multi-year low.

USD/JPY seems vulnerable amid geopolitical risks, BoJ rate hike bets
USD/JPY prolongs its downtrend for the third straight day on Friday. The global risk sentiment takes a hit amid an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which boosts the JPY's safe-haven status. The USD plummets to a two-year low amid rising Fed rate cut bets and contributes to the decline.

Ethereum's new valuation framework tags it 'digital oil,' highlights an $8,000 bull case
Ethereum is down 4% on Thursday following a report targeting institutional investors from Etherealize, a firm that advocates for Ethereum on Wall Street. The report presents a valuation framework comparing ETH to digital oil and predicts a bullish case of $8,000 per ETH in the short term.

US tariffs here to stay, trade deals ‘largely symbolic’
Despite legal challenges to IEEPA tariffs, US trade policy remains firm. Tariffs on steel and aluminium have doubled, and new sectoral tariffs are expected. Trade deals may emerge, but most will be symbolic. Effective tariff rates will stay high throughout 2025.