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Fed Rate Cut Looms Amid Inflation Fears
7 Dec
Summary
- Federal Reserve Chair Powell likely to approve rate cut despite inflation concerns.
- Policymakers show division on further interest rate reductions.
- Government shutdown created a scarcity of recent economic data for decision-making.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to proceed with another quarter-point interest-rate cut this week, despite reservations from some fellow policymakers regarding elevated inflation. This anticipated move comes after the Federal Reserve implemented a second reduction in October, largely influenced by a downturn in the US labor market observed during the summer months.
The lack of fresh economic data, stemming from a government shutdown that impacted October and November, has amplified the division among Fed officials. The most recent inflation figure available to policymakers dates back to September, a report unlikely to significantly alter the ongoing policy discussions.
Despite market doubts in mid-November, New York Fed President John Williams indicated room for a near-term reduction, leading markets to assign a high probability to a December rate cut. Economists anticipate a pause thereafter, with further reductions potentially occurring in 2026.
