← Front page

Odd Lots · Monday, August 31, 2026

Barkin on Inflation: Not Heading the Wrong Way, Just Not in the Right Place

Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin addressed concerns about inflation, stating that while it's not definitively heading in the wrong direction, it is not yet in the desired place. He also commented on the labor market, describing it as stable with a low unemployment rate but not 'frothy,' continuing a trend of low hiring and low firing.

personTom Barkin

The tape

2 quotes
And I'm not saying inflation is definitely heading in the wrong direction. It's just not in the right place. And that's how I think it's not in the right. place.
Tom Barkin
I also would say the job market's good, but it's not frothy. I mean, this low-hire, low-fire thing continues. And so that's where the policy thing will figure out.
Tom Barkin
Heard on Odd Lots — “Richmond Fed’s Tom Barkin on the Surprisingly Resilient Real Economy, published Monday, August 31, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via publisher transcript · $0.00