Inflation risk remains low -Fed's Powell to lawmakers

"We do expect inflation will move up over the course of the year," but it will be "neither particularly large nor persistent," Powell said in testimony before the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee after some members said they were concerned about rising prices.

"We have the tools to deal with that" if it becomes a problem, Powell added.

Powell was testifying alongside Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen as part of a hearing to ostensibly review the progress of the U.S. economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, and the effectiveness of the fiscal and monetary policies used to combat the crisis.