The Treasury's need to finance growing debt is the unspoken factor in the discussion of monetary policy and housing costs, the Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors argues.

Treasuries fell Friday but remained on course for a third straight weekly gain, with benchmark yields near the lowest levels since early May.

The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation moved further from its 2% target, underscoring the central bank's reluctance to cut rates.

Consumer spending and exports fell slightly in the latest estimate, leading to a downward revision. Imports, which dragged down overall output during the first three months of the year, also came in smaller.

"I would be quite surprised if he did not make a choice that fair-minded observers on both sides recognized as a reasonable person," Summers said on Bloomberg Television.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the changes could touch the central bank's quarterly economic forecasts. He also discussed downsizing at the Fed and his tenure on the board of governors.

None of the economists surveyed by Wolters Kluwer predict the Fed will cut rates at this week's meeting, few expect one in July and 41% said after September.

The government measure of inflation for May ticked up modestly, adding to the signals that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to move on interest rates when it meets next month.

The Federal Reserve Board governor said higher import tariffs could have a "persistent" impact on inflation.

The San Francisco-based bank was long hamstrung by a regulatory order that kept it under $1.95 trillion of assets. Now Wells can hit the gas on business lines it had kept idle.