March Rate Cut Is ‘Not the Most Likely’ or ‘Base Case’ Scenario

Despite markets anxiously awaiting rate cuts, the Federal Reserve is unlikely to start easing monetary policy at the next meeting of its policy-setting committee, in March. “I will tell you that I don't think it's likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting to identify March is the time to do [rate cuts],” Powell said Wednesday.