Fed Governor Waller: Supports further rate cuts this year

Fed Governor Waller said on Wednesday that inflation should continue to fall in 2025 and allow the Fed to cut interest rates further, although the pace is uncertain. Waller said that while inflation "does seem to stagnate" above the Fed's 2% target in the last few months of 2024, market-based inflation estimates, as well as one-month and shorter-term inflation readings, make him believe that U.S. inflation is continuing to ease. "This minimal progress has led to calls to slow or stop rate cuts," Waller said. "However, I believe that in the medium term, inflation will continue to move toward the 2% target, and further rate cuts will be appropriate." Waller did not say how many times he thinks interest rates should be cut this year, but he noted that the range of views of Fed officials is quite large, from no rate cuts to as many as five rate cuts. "I still believe that the U.S. economy is on solid ground," Waller said. "There is nothing in the data or estimates to suggest that the job market will weaken significantly in the coming months." (Jinshi)