Federal Reserve Watch for Feb. 24: Goolsbee Says FOMC Should Keep Focus on Inflation

02:35 PM EST, 02/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee (nonvoter) said that the FOMC should maintain its focus on inflation and should not allow it to remain elevated but acknowledged the recent slowdown in hiring and the uncertainty that businesses face after the Trump Administration's tariffs were overturned.

Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic (nonvoter, retiring Feb. 28) said that the US could be seeing a higher period of structural unemployment due to less demand for workers that the FOMC does not have the tools to deal with.

Recent comments of note:

(Feb. 23) Fed Governor Christopher Waller (voter) said that he could support a further rate pause at the March FOMC meeting if the February employment report confirms that the labor market stability remains but would advocate for a further rate reduction if that report shows that weakness has resumed.

(Feb. 20) St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said monetary policy is "well positioned" and that the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on the Trump Administration's tariffs should be minimal if the tariffs are replaced by similar-sized duties.

(Feb. 20) Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan (voter) said that she "cautiously optimistic" that inflation will slow and said that monetary policy is positioned to handle any economic outcomes.

(Feb. 19) San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said that the current stance of monetary policy is in "a good place" to wait and see how the economy evolves before taking additional steps to lower interest rates.

(Feb. 19) Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari (voter) said that the current stance of policy is near neutral, suggesting no need for further rate reductions with inflation still elevate and the labor market slowing but not substantially weakened.

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