Kevin Hassett, the White House National Economic Council director, said Monday that September's reading complicates the inflation picture the Federal Reserve is watching, even as beef and egg prices have fallen.
The three months before September had suggested price pressures were contained, Hassett said. He said the latest reading made the recent picture harder to assess, while leaving open whether it reflected a lasting shift or a temporary variation. The overall result concerned him despite declines in beef and egg prices.
He also characterized consumers as confident about the economy and spending more. Hassett said the Fed should monitor household spending but did not link it to consumer optimism.
Hassett said he respects the Fed's independence and expects Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to reach his own judgment. On Sept. 23, he questioned further rate increases, pointing to recent annualized core inflation near 2%.
Those earlier remarks came during a White House-Fed dispute over a possible further interest rate increase in 2026.
