Fed should be cautious amid uncertainty, Barkin says
Although inflation is coming down, the Federal Reserve Bank should exercise caution amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Tuesday while addressing a Rotary Club of Richmond meeting. The economy is in a good place, Barkin said, citing the 2.5% growth in the nation’s gross domestic […]
Here’s what Richmond Fed chief forecasts for 2025 economy
The economic forecast for 2025 is sunny, with a high chance of business optimism, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin, who spoke Thursday during the virtual 2025 Financial Forecast held by the Virginia Bankers Association and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “I went back this morning and looked at […]
Barkin: Still a waiting game for interest rates’ effect on inflation
The U.S. economy has yet to feel the effects of current interest rates, but it eventually will, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin predicted Thursday during an event held by the Risk Management Association’s Richmond chapter in the city’s East End. “I’m optimistic that we’ve gotten rates at a restrictive level […]
Financial Services: Signs of health
What’s that we hear? Is the economy growing healthier? It’s getting stronger for sure, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said in January during the 2024 Financial Forecast event co-hosted in Richmond by the Virginia Bankers Association and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Inflation was 3.4% in December 2023, inching closer […]
Economy healthy but more work is needed, Barkin says
The U.S. economy is showing signs of health, but bringing down inflation remains necessary, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Thursday during the 2024 Financial Forecast event co-hosted in Richmond by the Virginia Bankers Association and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Economic conditions have improved but haven’t quite settled back to […]
Communities must rally to solve housing issues, Barkin says
Homeownership is becoming increasingly unattainable for too many workers, and communities are going to need to make innovative decisions to create more affordable housing if they want to attract talent, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Wednesday during the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference in Hampton. Barkin said the nation’s housing crunch […[...]
Innovation, capital key to rural growth, Barkin and Warner say
There’s hope for economic growth in rural areas despite their challenges, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said Wednesday during the Fed’s 2023 Investing in Rural America conference in Roanoke. Rural areas could overcome economic development challenges, particularly housing shortages and lack of broadband access, with innovation, [&he[...]
Barkin: Raising interest rates is correct course
As inflation remains high and the fallout from recent bank failures seems contained, the Federal Reserve Bank has good reason to continue raising interest rates, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Thursday in a speech to the Virginia Council of CEOs at the University of Richmond. “It is worth remembering that not […]
Barkin: Inflation improving but not yet low enough
With inflation decreasing but still not at its 2% target, the Federal Reserve still needs “to stay on the case,” Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Thursday at a conference hosted in Richmond by the Virginia Bankers Association and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Inflation continued to slow in December […]
Barkin: To address inflation, U.S. must rethink labor
As the U.S. moves to a short-labor environment, it will be necessary for businesses, governments and nonprofits to reassess their approach to labor, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin said Friday in Richmond. Speaking at the Virginia Chamber’s 2022 Virginia Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade, Barkin said that although […]
Fed’s Barkin asks, ‘What’s ‘normal’ anymore?’
The question Tom Barkin is asked the most these days is when the economy will return to normal. The president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has a caution for those who may be wishing for the perceived stability of the pre-pandemic economy. “After two-and-a-half years of instability, we’re all ready to […]
Barkin: Inflation high, but Fed has tools to contain it
Tom Barkin agrees — inflation is too high. But he also says the Fed has the authority to get it back on the right track. That’s what the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond told the Richmond chapter of the Risk Management Association on Tuesday at Triple Crossing Beer, a brewery […]