Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Wednesday that he will support additional rate cuts in 2025 but the pace will depend on further inflation progress, per Reuters.
Key takeaways
"Inflation will continue to make progress towards 2%."
"Economy overall on solid footing, nothing to suggest labor market will weaken dramatically in coming months."
"Though recent inflation progress has been slow, much of that is due to imputed prices for housing and non-market services that are a less reliable guide to underlying price pressures."
"Base effects will improve inflation in 2025; more recent monthly and other shorter-term data also indicates improvement to come."
"Geopolitical conflicts and tariffs could be a source of renewed price pressure."
"Do not expect tariffs to produce persistent inflation and thus are not likely to influence views on appropriate monetary policy."
"Central bankers have a broad set of challenges ahead, from aging populations to geopolitical conflict and challenges to globalization."
Market reaction
The US Dollar Index showed no immediate reaction to these comments and was last seen gaining 0.4% on the day at 109.12.
Fed FAQs
Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions. The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.
In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.
Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD: No respite to the selling pressure
AUD/USD remained well on the defensive, trading in a volatile fashion that saw spot surpass the 0.6100 hurdle just to fade that uptick afterwards and revisit the 0.5980 towards the end of the NA session.
EUR/USD: Tariffs keep the sentiment subdued
EUR/USD added to Friday’s pullback and revisited the sub-1.0900 area, or two-day lows on the back of further gains in the US Dollar and the widespread demand for the safe-haven universe.
Gold recedes to four-week lows near $2,950
The persistent selling pressure is now dragging Gold prices to the area of fresh multi-week troughs near the $2,950 mark per troy ounce, always amid the continuation of the recovery in the US Dollar, highr US yields across the curve and unabated tariff tensions.
Binance founder CZ becomes strategic advisor to Pakistan's Crypto Council
The Pakistan Crypto Council appointed Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) as a strategic advisor on Monday to provide guidance on crypto infrastructure, education and adoption for the Pakistani government and private companies.
Strategic implications of “Liberation Day”
Liberation Day in the United States came with extremely protectionist and inward-looking tariff policy aimed at just about all U.S. trading partners. In this report, we outline some of the more strategic implications of Liberation Day and developments we will be paying close attention to going forward.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.