On April 30, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated that the current policy stance is appropriate and helps to achieve the Fed's policy objectives. The U.S. economy has maintained steady growth; employment growth has been slow, and the unemployment rate has not changed significantly, while consumer spending remains resilient. Developments in the Middle East bring a high degree of uncertainty. There are risks to both sides of the dual mandate, with long-term inflation expectations aligned with the 2% target.