Fed mouthpiece: Todays CPI report will not change the Feds policy direction

Odaily News Nick Timiraos, the Federal Reserve mouthpiece, wrote in his latest article: June inflation data may keep Fed officials cautious. Policymakers who have predicted that tariffs will cause more significant price pressures later this year may not have much reason to change this view after seeing the June data - especially if retailers delay adjusting prices as much as possible. The June data will only make the upcoming July and August data more important. Similarly, policymakers who believe that tariffs will not cause significant inflation (because companies pricing power is not enough to support rising inflation) have little reason to change their views after seeing Tuesdays report. In recent weeks, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell has said that the Feds threshold for cutting interest rates may be slightly lower than in the spring. This shift reflects an assessment that inflation risks may take longer to manifest, so their impact will be relatively weak. If the Fed maintains its expectation that inflation acceleration will not be too sharp, Powell may open the door to rate cuts as early as September based on conditions such as a weakening labor market or improved inflation data. (Jinshi)