CNBC's Steve Liesman had an interesting comment following Powell's appearance at NABE:
"There is one interesting question that I was listening to in the Q&A. That September jobs report was done and I will just say there's a little scuttlebutt here in the hallways about, 'does Powell have the jobs report?'. Does the Fed have the jobs report? We don't know that, he didn't really let on but we kinda think he maybe, sorta does have it."
Powell may be dropping hints at what was in it:
- Data since the July meeting shows labor market has softened considerably
- Breakeven rate of job growth has come down a great deal
- The labor market has demonstrated significant downside risk
So it was bad?