Fed board contenders Miran, Bullard say Trump's tariffs are not causing inflation

Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesTwo economists who are figuring in minently for vacancies at the Federal Reserve said Tuesday they don't believe tariffs cause inflation, a view that would be in line with President Donald Trump's desire for the central bank to cut interest rates.In separate CNBC interviews, Stephen Miran and James Bullard rejected the idea espoused by many non-White House economists that the duties will lead to longer-term higher prices.Trump has tapped Miran to fill out the remaining few months of the term of former Governor Adriana Kugler, who left the position Friday

Bullard's name has surfaced in reports this week as being one of at least a half dozen contenders to fill Chair Jerome Powell's seat when his term expires next May

Bullard also is a former St

However, they praised Trump's -growth agenda and also made s in line with the president's stand that inflation is not a blem."There just still continues to be no evidence whatsoever of any tariff-induced inflation," said Miran, chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. "Lots of folks who were expecting ... doom and gloom, it just hasn't panned out, and it continues to not pan out for them."The s came after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that inflation as measured by the consumer price index was at 2.7% for July, still above the Fed's 2% target but a shade below Wall Street expectations.Bullard said data continues to show that Trump's aggressive tariffs have not led to inflation

He predicted the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee would begin cutting in September and ly lop off a full percentage point from its benchmark interest rate over the next 12 months, which he said would get the rate "close to" neutral.watch now8:4908:49Former St

Jim Bullard: The Fed could cut 100 basis points in the next yearSquawk Box"The committee put their rate-cut gram on pause when the tariff situation arose six months ago, and now you have six months of evidence," he said. "I don't really think tariffs cause inflation

Taxes don't cause inflation

So what you're seeing in the data is very muted effects that are one-time increases in the price level."Both Miran and Bullard also stressed the importance of Fed independence, an issue that has been tested during both Trump terms as he has publicly and aggressively berated policymakers for not lowering

After the CPI data, Trump again took to Truth Social to repeat his attacks on Powell and his demand for easing

The president has said the Fed should cut by 3 percentage points."The damage [Powell] has done by always being Too Late is incalculable," Trump wrote. "Fortunately, the economy is sooo good that we've blown through Powell and the complacent Board."Bullard said Trump "is entitled to his views.""He's got long experience in real estate

It's all borrowing money at the lowest rate possible," Bullard said. "Good for him

He's got views, but a lot of people have views, and you know, if you don't want to hear that, this is bably the wrong job."Don’t miss these insights from CNBC Nvidia gets price target hike from Goldman Sachs ahead of earningsA bearish 'double top' pattern just formed in the Dow