White House says increased productivity means Fed can cut rates

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FILE PHOTO: Renovations continue at the Federal Reserve Board building in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 14, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

April 6 (Reuters) – White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett ‌told CNBC on Monday ‌that he believes a “supply shock” in ​the U.S. economy caused by capital spending and higher productivity from artificial intelligence will allow ‌the Federal ⁠Reserve to lower interest rates.

“If we have a ⁠supply shock like we’re seeing because of all this ​capital spending … ​AI ​increasing productivity, it ‌puts downward, downward pressure on inflation, and that should take the pressure off the Fed. They should be able ‌to lower rates,” ​Hassett said.

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Hassett said ​he expects ​interest rates will ‌be lowered if Kevin ​Warsh, ​President Donald Trump’s nominee to become Federal Reserve chair, ​takes the ‌position.

(Reporting by Ryan Patrick ​Jones in Toronto; Editing ​by Katharine Jackson)