Nick Timiraos said June CPI gave Fed chair Kevin Walsh room entering a two-day
congressional testimony, his first Hill appearance since April confirmation.
Softer-than-expected inflation allows Walsh to stick to his written testimony,
avoid fresh forward guidance and protect FOMC consensus without being boxed in.
Timiraos notes Walsh favors responding to data rather than pre-feeding markets;
he can endure lengthy questioning while using prepared language on tariffs, AI
investment and whether policy remains restrictive — stressing price stability —
which reduces the likelihood the hearings produce new market-moving policy
signals.
