COVID-19 relief payments to start going out this month: White House's Deese

© Reuters/JONATHAN ERNSTU.S. National Economic Council Director Deese addresses reporters at the top of the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top White House economic aide said on Thursday that direct payments from the recently passed coronavirus relief plan would start going out this month through direct deposits, as he touted the package's promises of helping with poverty, small businesses and job creation.

Still, the aide, Brian Deese, told CNN that inflation "is a risk, like many, that we are going to constantly monitor and keep our eye on".

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Alex Richardson)