The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the US Inched Down in May

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said Friday that he doesn’t expect tariffs to boost inflation significantly so policymakers should be looking to lower interest rates as early as next month. In a CNBC interview, the central banker said he and his colleagues should move slowly but start to ease as inflation is now longer a major economic threat. “I think we’re in the position that we could do this and as early as July,” Waller said during a “Squawk Box” interview with CNBC’s Steve Liesman. “That would be my view, whether the committee would go along with it or not.” The comments come two days after the Federal Open Market Committee voted to hold its key interest rate steady, the fourth straight hold following the last cut in December. President Donald Trump, who nominated Waller as a governor during his first term in office, has been hectoring the Fed to lower interest rates to reduce borrowing costs on the $36 trillion national debt. Fed's Waller: Central Banks Should Look Through Tariff Effects On Inflation - CNBC - Do Not Think Inflation Impact From Tariffs Will Be Big, Trend Is Looking Good - The Fed Is In Position As Early As July For Cuts - Not Sure If Committee Would Go Along But The Data Is Good,… WALLER: THE PROCESS SHOULD START SLOW TO BE SURE THERE ARE NO SURPRISES, IF THERE IS A SHOCK THE FED COULD PAUSE WALLER: SO FAR THE DATA HAS BEEN FINE, WITH NO REASON TO WAIT MUCH LONGER TO CUT WALLER: THE TARIFFS SHOULD POSE A ONE OFF LEVEL EFFECT ON PRICES AND NOT BE A…