Thank you for having me here. As Jennie mentioned in that kind introduction, I spend a lot of my time meeting with business and community leaders to understand the regional and national economy. I take those learnings to Washington, D.C., to help inform the monetary policymaking process. The health care sector is a major engine behind the U.S. economy, so I’m interested to learn more about what you’re seeing. To set the stage, I’ll briefly share my own thoughts on the broader economy, but then I look forward to hearing from you. These thoughts are mine alone and not necessarily those of anyone else on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) or in the Federal Reserve System. Improved Visibility Over the last several months, I’ve been saying, “It’s really hard to drive when it’s foggy.” In the context of high uncertainty about the implications of government policy changes, businesses have been on pause. They haven’t wanted to press on the gas; who knows what lies around the next curve. They also haven’t wanted to slam on their brakes; someone could run into them. So, I like to describe them as pulled over, with their hazards on, waiting for more clarity. This hesitation, present among consumers as well, appears to have quieted the economy’s momentum. GDP growth slowed to 1.2 percent in the first half of the year, down from 2.5 percent last year. Job gains have also slowed, with the three-month average down to 35,000 (less than a third of the average 127,000 added in February through April). But the fog is lifting. The tax bill has passed. Net immigrati RICHMOND FED’S BARKIN: MAY WELL SEE PRESSURE ON INFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT, BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS UNCLEAR Fed's Barkin: Employment could take a hit if consumers do pull back, but hopeful large layoffs will be avoided. BARKIN Says Spending Has Eased, But A Major Cut Is Unlikely Due To Low Joblessness And Continuing Wage Growth RICHMOND FED'S BARKIN/CHICAGO: BALANCE OF PRESSURE ON INFLATION AND EMPLOYMENT 'STILL UNCLEAR;' FED POLICY WELL POSITIONED TO REACT #Barkin #FederalReserve #economy