joining us on a cnbc exclusive, former minneapolis fed chair gary stern.ooked quite closely, you seven on a number of boards. you think they will taper tomorrow. why? >> yes, i think it will but it's a close call. some are concerned about the pace of the economic expansion. i think they will taper because most conditions are right. the economy is doing better. the labor market has improved. much of the uncertainty surrounding the budget has been resolved now. it certainly has diminished. and, you know there will never be a perfect time to start. this seems like a good time. that's why i think they will. >> what about inflation? we just had another reminder this morning, the consumer price index, pretty much every component falling month on month. it's up roughly 1.5% if you average out headline year on year. why not safe than sorry? >> that's the counterargument there's no rush into this. clearly that's what they decided back in september. i think it's a close call. they could decide that again. on the other hand the inflation news it's lower than their ta

our guest host this morning, gary stern and aei president arthur brooks.ull panel of strategists and economists ready to join the jobs conversation. in a minute, if you're playing along at home, set your watches to the countdown clock at the bottom of the screen. the consensus for today, 180,000 nonfarm payrolls. did that go up after adp, liesman? >> that did not because they didn't survey again. >> oh. >> there were some guys who raised it. but that actual consensus remain the same. >> and we now know that adp actually -- >> went up a little bit. >> moved the dial by 5,000. >> thought adp might be better because they do the work involved. >> as opposed to the government. can you check that post again? what is the guy doing? >> rainy morning and he looks up, i don't think so. yeah, they're working. he talks to his supervisor. you sure? yeah. like the cable guy. pictures of cable guys asleep in the home where, anyway. but before we talk jobs, we have a round-up, not for comcast, we have a round-up of the morning's other top stories. and the big one they've