Fed's Waller hints @ cut to rate

 WASHINGTON - Christopher Waller, a member of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, raised the possibility on Nov. 28 that the Fed could decide to cut its benchmark interest rate as early as spring if inflation keeps declining steadily. 

Waller cautioned that inflation is still too high and that it’s not yet certain if a recent slowdown in price increases can be sustained. 

But he sounded the most optimistic note of any Fed official since the central bank launched its aggressive streak of rate hikes in March 2022, and he signaled that the central bank is likely done raising rates.

Waller is regarded as a relatively “hawkish” official, meaning that he typically favors higher rates to combat inflation rather than low rates to boost job growth. 

But he has also become somewhat of a bellwether for the Fed’s overall rate-setting committee. (The AP 11/28/23) Fed's Waller Raises Possibility of a Rate Cut by Spring If Inflation Keeps Slowing - Biz New Orleans