Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee said on Thursday that he forecasts several interest-rate reductions later in 2026, describing his outlook as comparatively optimistic among Federal Reserve policymakers. In an interview on Fox News, Goolsbee said he has confidence that rates can come down several more times this year in 2026, while also urging caution in how the central bank sequences any cuts.
Goolsbee emphasized that he does not want the Fed to front-load rate reductions before the central bank has evidence that inflation is trending back toward its 2% goal. He warned that moving too quickly to lower interest rates risks overheating the economy and could result in an uptick in inflation.
The comments frame a balance in Goolsbee's approach: he signals a willingness to support monetary easing if conditions allow, but he places a clear priority on waiting for confirming data on inflation before committing to an aggressive path of rate cuts. That tension - between an expectation of multiple cuts and a concern about acting prematurely - was a central theme of his interview remarks.
Goolsbee's remarks underline two linked considerations for policy: the timing of cuts and the sequence in which they are implemented. He articulated confidence that successive reductions are possible within the year, while simultaneously advising the Fed to proceed only after seeing convincing signs that inflation is returning to the 2% target. The potential consequence he highlighted for acting too quickly is that the economy could overheat and inflation could rise again.
Presented on a national news program, the comments make clear that Goolsbee sees room for easing in 2026 but wants the Federal Reserve to prioritize data confirmation. His stance places emphasis on conditionality - that is, the central bank's decisions should depend on observed progress toward the inflation objective rather than on a predetermined schedule of rate cuts.
Summary
Austan Goolsbee said he expects several Fed rate cuts later in 2026 but urged the Fed not to front-load easing until there is clear evidence inflation is moving back to 2%, cautioning that premature cuts could overheat the economy and inflation.