Federal Reserve (Fed) President of the Bank of Richmond Thomas Barkin said on Tuesday that he is still concerned about risks to employment and inflation data, and that he hopes the current United States (US) government shutdown will only cause a few days of delay in data.

Key takeaways:

A world of no job growth is 'uncomfortable' even if unemployment rate stays low.

US economic data for the last month and a half has been encouraging on the demand side, employment and inflation.

Still an open question when inflation will fall to the 2% target.

He is concerned about risks to employment and inflation.

The Fed's policy rate is now at higher end of estimates of neutral.

He hears overwhelmingly from companies that demand is fine, not 'frothy'.

Business perceptions about pricing power have fallen.

The Fed is facing a different question now, with inflation above target, than the Greenspan-led Fed did in the 1990s.

Productivity is coming not just from artificial intelligence, but from companies wanting to limit hiring, adapting to past labor shortages.

He does not know Warsh well, but that Fed Chair nominee seems capable and charismatic.

He is very friendly to the notion that inflation might come down, but looking to see it.

He will do the job congress set for him and trust that is what the new Fed chair will do as well.

Size of balance sheet is odd to focus on solely because it includes so many things like cash in circulation, treasury general account, along with bank reserves.

He is open to a conversation about any aspect of the balance sheet or other Fed operations.

He hopes current US government shutdown will only cause a few days of delay in data.”