general
Fed Governor Cook Says Iran War Raises Inflation Risk Above Jobs
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said on March 26 that the Iran war has increased near-term inflation risk relative to the labor market, after a speech in New Haven, Connecticut.
Mar 26th 2026 · United States
Insights
- Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said the Iran war has shifted risks so that inflation is a greater concern for policymakers than employment.
- Cook said the labor market is in balance but precarious.
- Her comments were made during a question and answer session after a speech in New Haven, Connecticut on March 26, 2026.
- The remark signals that current Fed risk assessments give more weight to inflation control than to shielding the labor market.
Sources
- How a war in the Middle East is hiking your mortgage rate in America fortune.com
- Mortgage Rates Jump Again as Iran War Effects Ripple Through Housing Market www.nytimes.com
- Fed’s Cook Says Inflation Is More at Risk Than Jobs Due to War www.bloomberg.com
- Goldman: Oil Shock Will Hit Jobs oilprice.com
- Dow CEO warns petrochemical shortage from Iran war could fuel inflation for rest of the year fortune.com
- Resurgent Inflation Tests Faith in Fed’s Willingness to Tame It www.nytimes.com
- A Breakthrough for T.S.A. Funding, and How the War in Iran Will Hit Grocery Prices www.nytimes.com
- Economists See War Pushing US Inflation Above 3%, Hurting Growth www.bloomberg.com
- 'Ripple of fear' over Iran war hits consumer confidence www.bbc.com