Fed Chair Powell: Hold Your Horses on Rate Cuts!

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell dropped a hint in Dallas about future interest rate cuts. He said, "We're in no hurry. " Why? Inflation is still hanging around, and the economy is doing just fine. He's got a point. When things are steady, there's no rush to change them. Economists think the Fed might cut rates again in December, but after that, who knows? Some traders are even doubting the planned rate cuts for 2025. And here's an interesting bit: Donald Trump's election win sent yields on Treasury securities higher. That's because investors expect faster growth and maybe more budget deficits and inflation. Powell said inflation might stick around for a bit, but it should go down in the long run. He talked about why the Fed's independence is important for fighting inflation. Presidents shouldn't be telling the Fed what to do. Powell believes the public trusts the Fed to keep inflation under control, which helps keep prices stable. Other Fed officials are also cautious about rate cuts. Inflation has been stubborn, sticking to around 2% for months. Lorie Logan from the Dallas Fed said, "Let's not cut rates too much. We don't want inflation to speed up again. " It's like they're saying, "Slow and steady wins the race. "