Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered an address on economic prospects on November 13, 2026, at an executive business leadership forum hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
In prepared remarks, Powell said the robust expansion of the United States economy provides the Federal Open Market Committee with operational flexibility. He stated: "The economy is not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates." During the Dallas address, Powell stated: "The strength we are currently seeing in the economy gives us the ability to approach our decisions carefully. If data permits us to proceed more deliberately, doing so appears to be a sensible choice. We remain steadfastly committed to returning inflation sustainably to our 2% objective while supporting maximum employment."
According to formal speech transcripts released by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Powell reviewed macroeconomic performance. United States gross domestic product expanded near a 3% annual pace over recent quarters, underpinned by durable household consumption. While hiring velocity has moderated from post-pandemic peaks, the national unemployment rate remains historically low at 4.1%. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell observed that the neutral interest rate level may settle higher than historical pre-pandemic baselines and that the central bank will determine monetary adjustments meeting by meeting based on incoming macroeconomic data rather than following a predetermined course.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's measured tone prompted immediate repricing across global financial markets, and the CME FedWatch Tool showed interest-rate traders lowered the implied probability of a 25-basis-point rate reduction at the December FOMC meeting. Equity markets retreated following the address, while two-year Treasury yields advanced to 4.36% and benchmark 10-year Treasury yields tested 4.46%.
