Fed's Powell: I don't see the labor market as a source of inflation

FED CHAIR POWELL: WE WILL WANT TO SEE THE BACKSIDE OF BOTH THE ENERGY AND TARIFF SHOCKS BEFORE EVEN CONSIDERING RATE CUTS, ADDING THAT THE ENERGY SURGE HAS NOT YET REACHED ITS PEAK. - POWELL: NUMBER SEEING HIKE AS LIKELY AS A CUT HAS MOVED UP FED CHAIR POWELL: THERE IS NO RUSH TO MAKE A DECISION ON LANGUAGE AT THIS POINT, AS DEVELOPMENTS OVER THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS COULD ALTER THE PICTURE — ADDING THAT TODAY'S CALL WAS CLOSER THAN THE ONE IN MARCH. FED CHAIR POWELL: NEW LEADERSHIP IS LIKELY TO BE IN PLACE BY JUNE, AND IT REMAINS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE EASING BIAS WILL BE RETAINED IN THE STATEMENT AT THAT POINT. Asked if the decision about Cook will affect his decision on leaving Powell said "not really".

POWELL: WILL LEAVE FED WHEN I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO DO SO POWELL: LITERALLY STAYING BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION POWELL: NO CHOICE BUT TO STAY *POWELL: I WON'T LEAVE THE FED UNTIL INVESTIGATION IS OVER *POWELL: I WILL KEEP A LOW PROFILE *POWELL: MY INTENTION IS NOT TO INTERFERE *POWELL: WILL WORK WITH THE CHAIR *POWELL: WE EXPECT TARIFF INFLATION TO RECEDE NEXT TWO QUARTERS POWELL: ENERGY SURGE HASN'T EVEN PEAKED YET

FED'S POWELL: INFLATION ELEVATED, IN PART REFLECTING ENERGY PRICE INCREASE POWELL: CURRENT POLICY STANCE APPROPRIATE POWELL: MIDDLE EAST EVENTS CONTRIBUTES TO UNCERTAINTY POWELL: NEAR-TERM INFLATION EXPECATIONS HAVE RISEN *POWELL: HOUSING SECTOR HAS REMAINED WEAK *POWELL: LABOR DEMAND HAS CLEARLY SOFTENED AS WELL *POWELL: PART OF SLOWER JOB GROWTH REFLECTS LOWER IMMIGRATION *POWELL: IN NEAR TERM, HIGHER ENERGY PRICES WILL BOOST INFLATION