New York Fed President John Williams warned that tariff effects are only beginning to show up in the data and could push inflation significantly higher in the months ahead. Speaking overnight, Williams said the full impact of US tariffs will take time to materialize, but expects them to add “about 1 percentage point” to inflation through the second half of this year and into early 2026. While he acknowledged current data shows only “modest” impact, he anticipates upward pressure will grow meaningfully.

Williams forecast inflation to average between 3% and 3.5% in 2025, before cooling to around 2.5% in 2026 and only returning to the Fed’s 2% target by 2027. For June specifically, he expects headline inflation at 2.5% and core at 2.75%. Alongside elevated price pressures, he also projects a slowing economy, with growth easing to around 1% this year and unemployment rising to 4.5% from the current 4.1%.

Against this backdrop, Williams endorsed holding rates at current levels. “Maintaining this modestly restrictive stance of monetary policy is entirely appropriate,” he said, suggesting the Fed is in no rush to cut despite cooling growth.

Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic warned that rising inflation linked to import tariffs may delay any rate cuts. Speaking to Fox Business, Bostic acknowledged the uncertainty created by Trump’s trade actions. He added that increasing price pressures is now visible across the Southeast. “The price pressures are real,” he said, citing business feedback and internal surveys.

Bostic suggested the June CPI report, which showed broad-based increases in prices—particularly for heavily imported goods—may mark an “inflection point”. He highlighted that headline inflation moved further away from the Fed’s 2% target. “We’ve seen the highest increase in prices that we’ve seen all year,” he added. That backdrop, he argued, warrants caution.

When pressed about the possibility of no rate cut until 2026, Bostic didn’t rule it out. “Everything is on the table,” he said, stressing that the path of policy will depend entirely on how inflation evolves. “If prices continue to move steadily away from our target, then we’ll have to consider what policy response is appropriate.”

The Fed’s latest Beige Book reported a slight pickup in US economic activity from late May through early July, a modest improvement over the previous edition. Five districts saw slight or modest growth, while five were flat and two reported declines.

However, businesses remain wary, with uncertainty still elevated and the overall outlook described as “neutral to slightly pessimistic.” Only two districts expected any pickup in activity moving forward. Labor conditions remained cautious, with only a very slight increase in employment and modest wage growth.

Price pressures continued to build, described as moderate to modest across districts. Input costs tied to tariffs—particularly in manufacturing and construction—were widely cited, with most businesses facing “modest to pronounced” cost pressures.

A growing number of firms are beginning to pass these higher costs to consumers via price hikes or surcharges. Others, constrained by customer price sensitivity, have opted to absorb the increases, compressing margins. With broad expectations for continued cost pressure in the coming months, the Fed noted that “consumer prices will start to rise more rapidly by late summer”.

Full Fed’s Beige Book report here.

Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said overnight that she expects a slight pickup in the Fed’s preferred inflation measure following June’s CPI release and warned against easing policy prematurely. With the PCE inflation gauge at 2.3% in May, Logan said the latest CPI data “probably” means it will “move up a bit.” She stressed the need for a longer trend of subdued inflation before being confident in the disinflation process.

At the same time, Logan pointed to a solid labor market, near-record stock prices, and the recently passed Trump fiscal package as “tailwind” for continued economic strength.

Against that backdrop, Logan argued that the Fed can afford to “hold tight for a while longer,” maintaining modestly restrictive policy to ensure inflation returns to target sustainably.

Boston Fed President Susan Collins said overnight that the Fed should remain “actively patient” in its stance. Despite the complexity of current conditions, she argued that “solid” fundamentals give the Fed room to carefully assess incoming data before making policy moves. “Calibrating appropriate policy in this context is challenging,” she acknowledged in her speech.

Collins highlighted the inflationary impact of newly imposed trade tariffs, which she said are beginning to show up in the prices of some goods. She projected core inflation to climb toward 3% by the end of the year, while warning that growth and employment may slow as a result.

However, she pointed to mitigating factors—such as firms narrowing profit margins and consumers maintaining spending. “As a result, the adverse impact of tariffs on labor market conditions and economic growth may be more limited,” she said.

Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin warned that inflation pressures remain persistent, with recent data showing signs of renewed pricing power among suppliers.

Speaking at an event in Baltimore, Barkin noted that many firms—still emboldened by the inflation surge of the past two years—are attempting to pass on rising costs, including those tied to tariffs. However, he cautioned that consumers, fatigued by prolonged inflation, may push back. “You’ve got consumers who are exhausted by inflation, who are already trading down,” he said.

Barkin’s comments also touched on the institutional integrity of the Fed amid speculation surrounding Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s future. With Powell’s term set to expire in May next year, US President Donald Trump is widely expected to nominate a more dovish successor.

Barkin emphasized the importance of policy independence, saying he hoped any new appointee would “try to decide the best policy for the country.” He added that rate-setting decisions aren’t necessarily driven by the Fed chair alone.