New Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson used her debut speech to call for a balanced approach to monetary policy as the economy navigates rising labor market risks and uncertain inflation dynamics.
She said policy should move toward a “more neutral stance,” stressing that the Fed must weigh both sides of its mandate. While she noted that the job market remains solid overall, she warned that conditions are “moving in the wrong direction” and that risks are “noticeably” increasing.
Paulson indicated she supports a measured pace of rate cuts consistent with the Fed’s latest projections, which outlined a quarter-point reduction last month and an additional 50 basis points of easing before the end of 2025, followed by further cuts in subsequent years.
On inflation, Paulson acknowledged that the recent tariff hikes could lift prices modestly, but said she does not expect those effects to persist. Still, she cautioned against rushing into deeper rate reductions given uncertainty over where the neutral rate truly lies.
