Fed's Kashkari: Current Monetary Policy Is Close to Neutral, Labor Market Still Quite Resilient

BlockBeats News, February 19, 2026 – FOMC Voter and Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari stated that the labor market remains quite resilient, showing some moderation but still “decent to quite good.” Current monetary policy is approaching neutrality. He expressed optimism about artificial intelligence, with almost all companies realizing the benefits of using AI. AI could potentially boost productivity in the next 5 to 10 years. The Fed takes a cautious approach to using AI internally, with robust guardrails in place to prevent access to sensitive data.