Jerome Powell Final Press Conference April 2026: What He Said About Inflation, Oil, and Leaving the Fed

# Jerome Powell Final Press Conference April 2026: What He Said About Inflation, Oil, and Leaving the Fed

> **Quick answer:** Jerome Powell held his almost certainly final press conference as Federal Reserve chair on April 29 2026. He flatly denied stagflation, warned that oil and energy prices will keep pushing inflation higher in the months ahead, and confirmed he is staying on the Fed Board of Governors through at least the conclusion of the DOJ probe — even though that probe was dropped five days earlier, on April 24. The S&P 500 fell 0.56%, Nasdaq dropped 1.05%, and the 10-year yield climbed 5 basis points.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personal financial decisions.*

Jerome Powell's final press conference on April 29 2026 lasted roughly 45 minutes, covered the economy from three directions — labor, inflation, energy — and carried the quiet weight of a man who knows the room he is walking out of. His term as Federal Reserve chair expires May 15. Unless Kevin Warsh's Senate confirmation takes longer than expected, April 29 was the last time the words "Chair Powell" applied in a press conference setting.

What he said about inflation, oil, and his own future was more consequential than anything in the rate decision itself — which arrived as a foregone conclusion, rates held at 3.50-3.75% for the third consecutive meeting.

## The Three Things Powell Said That Mattered