We've probably seen Jerome Powell's last cut as Fed chair, says Allianz's Mohamed El-Erian

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 09, 2026 at 16:09  |  3:53  |  CNBC
Speakers
Mohamed El-Erian — Chief Economic Adviser, Allianz

Summary

Mohamed El-Erian discusses the latest jobs report, saying it is no drama and leaves the labor market fine but not great. He argues the Fed is likely to hold in January and may have already delivered its last cut under Chair Powell. He highlights affordability and productivity as key issues and says the 10-year Treasury remains rangebound, with next week's inflation print the critical catalyst.

  • Jobs report was close to expectations and no drama, with labor market fine but not great.
  • El-Erian sees employment increasingly decoupled from output; productivity gains raise questions about who benefits.
  • Affordability is a real economic, political and social issue, tied to both prices and income.
  • He expects the Fed to do nothing in January and says Powell may have delivered his last cut.
  • The 10-year Treasury has been rangebound despite many macro headlines.
  • Next Tuesday's inflation report is the key focus and could break the range.
  • Labor force participation remains a concern; reskilling and retooling are deeper supply-side issues.
Ideas
Mohamed El-Erian Chief Economic Adviser, Allianz 3:16
10-year rangebound; inflation print key catalyst.
The 10-year Treasury has been surprisingly rangebound despite many macro developments because investors see policy effects on both sides and are frozen; he stresses that next Tuesday's inflation print is now the key focus and something must break the data/policy stalemate to break the range.
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This CNBC video, published January 09, 2026, features Mohamed El-Erian discussing IEF. 1 trade idea extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Mohamed El-Erian  · Tickers: IEF