Ferguson: The Fed isn’t divided, it’s uncertain about inflation and the economy

Federal Reserve Policy & Economic Uncertainty - The market perceives the Federal Reserve (Fed) as divided and cautious due to uncertainties surrounding inflation, labor market, government shutdown, and tariffs [1][2] - The Fed's debate needs resolution, which is a key focus for markets [3] - The Fed faces challenges in justifying policy moves without reliable economic data, especially given its data-dependent stance [5][6] - The Fed is considering a pause in policy adjustments due to data limitations caused by events like government shutdowns [5][6] - The Fed is aware of the debate surrounding the concentration of GDP growth in the AI sector but considers overall growth from consumers [12][13] - The Fed acknowledges the AI sector's contribution to GDP growth but questions its sustainability, which is unlikely to drive major decisions at this stage [14] Data & Economic Indicators - The Fed can use alternative data sources like state data and private sector indices to compensate for missing official economic reports [5][9] - Bank of America research indicates credit card spending is up over 2% for the week ending October 4th [8] - Earnings reports from companies like Delta Airlines and PepsiCo can provide insights into inflation and consumer spending [9] - Private sector economic reports may also be affected by the lack of incoming government data [9] - Atlanta Fed GDPNow tool estimates GDP growth at 38% [11]