Fed Chair Powell: Concerned about 'direction of travel' of data collection

Economic Data & Monetary Policy - The Federal Reserve (Fed) acknowledges a slight degradation in the scope of economic surveys but expresses concern about the direction of travel regarding the accuracy and reliability of US economic measurement [4] - The Fed emphasizes the importance of accurate economic data for itself, Congress, and businesses to understand the state of the economy, including growth levels [4][5][6] - The Fed notes that current interest rates are at higher levels, providing significantly more room for cuts compared to periods of very low interest rates [15] Inflation & Tariffs - Retailers anticipate tariff-related inflation to become more apparent in future data, as current sales reflect inventory from previous months [8][9] - There is uncertainty regarding how much of the tariff impact will be passed on to consumers; the effect could be lower or higher than expected [10] - Companies may increase prices on non-tariffed goods to compensate for losses incurred due to tariffs on price-elastic goods [11][12] - The Fed acknowledges the possibility of companies increasing prices on necessities, even if not subject to tariffs, to offset losses from tariffed goods, as seen in past tariff episodes [12][13] Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Congress is considering a proposal to cut $56 million from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), raising concerns about the agency's ability to collect accurate data and provide reliable indicators [3]