Initial Jobless Claims in the United States stood at 207,000 for the week ending on April 11, compared to the expected 215,000.

Over time, action needs to be taken to ensure that inflation falls back to the 2% target in a timely and sustained manner. Williams' statement is more explicit than before; previously, he indicated his support for the Federal Reserve to first gather information before determining its policy stance, but this speech further supplements with a clear signal that "further action is necessary."