#PowellRemarks In his recent remarks following the June 2025 FOMC meeting, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the central bank's unwavering focus on achieving its dual mandate of maximum employment and stable prices. While acknowledging that the U.S. economy remains in a "solid position" with a low unemployment rate (4.2%), he noted that inflation is still "somewhat above our 2 percent longer-run objective."

The Federal Reserve opted to keep its policy interest rate unchanged for the fourth consecutive meeting, at a range of 4.25%-4.5%. Powell highlighted that the current strength of the economy allows the Fed to be patient, stating that they will "make smarter and better decisions if we wait just a couple of months or however long it takes to get a sense of what is really going to pass through to inflation." A key concern raised was the potential impact of new tariffs on inflation, with Powell noting they "are likely to push up prices and weigh on economic activity," though the extent depends on their duration and level. The Fed's latest projections now anticipate inflation to reach 3% by year-end, up from earlier forecasts.