As the US government shutdown continues, the Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points in October in the absence of key economic data.
With the end of the lockdown, all eyes are on the FED’s final interest rate decision for 2025 in December, and Wall Street Journal reporter Nick Timiraos, known as the FED spokesperson, shared his predictions for the FED’s December interest rate decision.
Nick Timiraos, known as a FED insider, stated that the FED has a major disagreement on its interest rate decision.
Major Disagreement Among Fed Members!
Timiraos reported that there is a deepening disagreement within the Fed regarding the December interest rate cut.
Timiraos noted that an unusual conflict has emerged between the hawkish and dovish figures of the Fed.
The famous name stated that during Jerome Powell’s nearly eight-year tenure, there had never been such a level of separation before.
“There is a rarely seen division among Fed members. Following the second interest rate cut at the end of October, the rhetoric of hawkish members has become even harsher. The hawks now believe that further rate cuts are risky.”
Some Fed officials argue for a rate cut, citing slowing inflation and the limited economic impact of tariffs, while others cite sticky inflation and the impact of tariffs as reasons for not cutting rates.
According to Timiraos, the US government shutdown and the disruption of the release of important data have further deepened this division among members.
Nick Timiraos recently stated that Powell’s statement at his last press conference, “A rate cut in December is not a certainty,” was not a message to the market.
According to Timiraos, Powell’s statement was a message aimed at explaining the division among FED members.
With interest rates hovering around 3.75%-4%, markets are still pricing in a rate cut amid a rare hawk-dove clash. According to the Fed Watch Tool, a 25 basis point rate cut is priced in at 63.4%, while holding rates steady is priced in at 36.6%.
*This is not investment advice.