Warsh promises inflation will be a 'thing of the past,' cites benefits of AI investment boom

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in June after rising 0.5 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This decline in the all items index was the largest 1-month decrease since April 2020 when it fell 0.8 percent. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.5 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for energy fell 5.7 percent in June after rising 3.9 percent in May, 3.8 percent in April, and 10.9 percent in March. The energy index was the largest contributor to the monthly all items decrease, more than offsetting increases in other indexes including those for shelter and food. The index for food increased 0.2 percent over the month, as did the index for food at home and the index for food away from home. The index for all items less food and energy was unchanged in June. Indexes that decreased over the month include motor vehicle insurance, communication, apparel, medical care, and used cars and trucks. Conversely, the indexes for recreation, household furnishings and operations, and personal care were among the major indexes that increased in June. The all items index rose 3.5 percent for the 12 months ending June after rising 4.2 percent for the 12 months ending May. The all items less food and energy index Consumer prices rose 3.5% annually in June, less than expected as energy prices eased Consumer prices posted their biggest decline in more than six years during June as a sharp swoon in energy prices provided at least temporary relief from this year’s inflation surge, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The consumer price index, a broad measure of costs for goods and services across the U.S. economy, was lower than expected across the board. CPI fell a seasonally adjusted 0.4% for the month, bringing the annual inflation rate down to 3.5%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for a drop of 0.2% and an inflation rate of 3.8%, following the 4.2% reading in May. The monthly drop in headline inflation was the biggest since April 2020. Core CPI *declined* in June, falling -0.02% and reducing the 12-month rate to 2.6%. Headline CPI also fell, and by a larger-than-expected -0.42%, lowering the 12-month rate to 3.5%. pic.twitter.com/m2o2xGLFvd

Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, and other members of the Committee—good morning. It's a privilege to join you. At my first appearance before this panel, I am particularly honored to represent my superb colleagues throughout the Federal Reserve System. In submitting the Board's Monetary Policy Report, I think of a long line of central bank chiefs who came before Congress in keeping with the Federal Reserve Act. I think also of earlier efforts, going back to the time of the Framers, to create a central bank that would endure and serve the nation's founding principles. One of the large figures in the Federal Reserve's history is Alan Greenspan, who passed away last month after a century of life. By my count, my friend appeared before Congress more than two hundred times, displaying his agile mind and his distinctive way with words. We at the Fed recall the Chairman's strong and steady hand in a period of rapid economic change. And we honor his memory. As a country, we just marked our 250th year. And when Americans count our blessings, we can include an economy predicated on the brilliance of our constitutional design and system of ordered liberty—an economy without equal in all it's done for human flourishing. Some forms of Fed communications are discretionary, but not this one—and for good reason. It is a prudent and wisely conceived obligation, designed to keep the Fed accountable, responsible, and faithful to its congressional mandate of full employment and price stability. These obligations are of a piece with the Fed's rightful independence in the conduct of monetary policy. Today we are at a hinge point in history. It's up to all of us to meet this moment. The task of this generation of policymakers—and of individuals throughout the private sector—is to ensure the American economy excels far into the future. * * * * The Fed's number one objective is to Fed's Warsh: Productivity growth has been strong, predating gains from AI adoption. Fed's Chair Warsh: Labor market appears broadly stable. Just in | Fed's Warsh: Correct policy measures will eliminate the past five years of inflation, according to his remarks to Congress. Fed's Chair Warsh: The purpose of task forces is to equip the Fed to make better monetary policy decisions, put years of high inflation behind us.

Fed's Warsh: We want economic growth to be more broad-based. Fed's Chair Warsh: We want an increase in inflation to be more limited. Fed's Chair Warsh: This isn't a time for the Fed to pass the buck on inflation. Fed's Warsh: Fed is making a commitment on price stability, 2% goal on inflation. Fed's Chair Warsh: The Fed has the tools to deliver price stability.