Watching AI's impact on jobs carefully , say Fed Chair Powell

Monetary Policy Considerations - A continued shutdown could make it more difficult to make a move in December, potentially leading to a more cautious approach [1][2][3] - The possibility exists that it would make sense to be more cautious about moving, potentially slowing down policy decisions due to uncertainty [3][4] Labor Market Analysis - Layoff announcements from companies like Amazon are being closely watched for their implications on job creation, especially in the context of AI advancements [4][6] - Initial claims data does not yet reflect the impact of layoffs, but this is expected to change over time [7][8] Economic Conditions - Many public consumer-facing companies report a bifurcated economy, with lower-end consumers struggling and shifting to lower-cost products, while higher-income consumers continue to spend [8][9] - Rising household health premiums are being monitored as a potential factor in policy discussions [5]