Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin isn't hitting the panic button on jobs just yet. Speaking Thursday, he said hiring and firing have both slowed, but the unemployment rate is still holding steady near historic lows. Any real cracks in the labor market, he suggested, are a ways out there.
He's been hearing a cautiously upbeat tone from businesses in his district, with more clarity now around taxes, tariffs, and immigration rules. Maybe the fog is starting to lift, Barkin said, though he admitted it's not lifting much on the hiring side and only a little on investing.
It will be interesting to see how these developments converge, on the back of the Trump/Powell spat. WIth investors hoping for a likely rate cut within the next few months, these broader market moves will be a critical gauge in getti nga feeler for things to come.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
View Comments
Richmond's Fed Chief Barkin: Job Market Holding Steady
Published 2 months ago
Aug 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Positive
Auto