White House Economist Discusses Inflation, Wages, and Economic Sentiment

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett discusses recent inflation data, wage trends, and the broader U.S. economic outlook. The conversation covers how near-term CPI components are behaving, what shelter and travel-related prices indicate, and how real wage growth factors into household experience. It also addresses Federal Reserve policy independence, mortgage rates, credit market monitoring, and the gap between economic surveys and consumer behavior.

■ Inflation data and price trends
- Recent headline and core CPI readings and near-term versus 12-month changes
- Shelter, airfares, beef, and egg prices as components of the latest report

■ Wages, growth, and policy
- Real wage estimates and the relationship between supply shocks and demand
- Federal Reserve independence and mortgage rate trends

■ Risks and public sentiment
- Monitoring of credit default swaps and AI-related debt
- Partisan economic surveys compared with spending and travel behavior

This discussion is suited to viewers seeking an overview of recent U.S. inflation data and the administration’s economic perspective. It provides context for understanding how price components, wages, and sentiment are being interpreted ahead of future data releases.