Federal Reserve officials in September were strongly inclined to lower interest rates, approving a 25 basis point reduction to a target range of 4%-4.25% amidst concerns over labor market weakness and a shift in risk assessment. While the September cut saw near unanimity, the FOMC was split on the total number of reductions for the year, with a 10-9 majority favoring two additional quarter-point cuts, and Governor Stephen Miran dissenting for a more aggressive 50 basis point cut. The minutes also noted potential challenges from the ongoing government shutdown, which could impair data availability for future policy decisions despite market expectations for further easing.
Federal Reserve officials in September were strongly inclined to lower interest rates, with the only dispute seeming to be over how many cuts were coming, meeting minutes released Wednesday showed. The meeting summary indicated near unanimity among participants at the Federal Open Market Committee that the central bank's key overnight borrowing rate should be cut due to weakness in the labor market. They split, however, on whether there should be two or three total reductions this year, including the quarter percentage point move approved at the Sept. 16-17 meeting. "In considering the outlook for monetary policy, almost all participants noted that, with the reduction in the target range for the federal funds rate at this meeting, the Committee was well positioned to respond in a timely way to potential economic developments," the minutes stated. "Participants expressed a range of views about the degree to which the current stance of monetary policy was restrictive and about the likely future path of policy," the document added. "Most judged that it likely would be appropriate to ease policy further over the remainder of this year." A one-vote difference Projection materials released at the meeting exemplified the close split among the 19 officials who take part at FOMC meetings, 12 of whom vote. While the full Federal Open Market Committee voted 11-1 to lower its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point, participants had varying views on how aggressive they should be through the rest of 2025 and the next several years. The reduction took the federal funds rate down to a target range of 4%-4.25%. Ultimately, a slight 10-9 majority favored the equivalent of quarter-point cuts at each of the two remaining meetings this year. Projection materials indicated the likelihood of one more cut in both 2026 and 2027 before the funds rate settles in a long-term range around 3%. However, the meeting featured a range of viewpoints. The Sept.16-17 session was the first for newly appointed Governor Stephen Miran, who took office just hours before the start. Miran singled himself out as a lone voter who favored a much more aggressive easing path. Though the minutes do not identify individual participants, the post-meeting statement noted that Miran was the dissenting vote, preferring instead a half-point cut. Moreover, in subsequent public appearances, Miran noted that he was a lone "dot" that indicated a much more aggressive path of easing than the rest of the committee. Concerns over the labor market The meeting appeared to see views across the spectrum, with some preferring a more cautious approach to cuts. "Some participants noted that, by several measures, financial conditions suggested that monetary policy may not be particularly restrictive, which they judged as warranting a cautious approach in the consideration of future policy changes," the minutes said. Officials grew concerned with the state of the labor market, which they saw as weakening as upside threats to inflation continued though they still expected it to ease back to the Fed's 2% target. "Participants generally noted that their judgments about this meeting's appropriate policy action reflected a shift in the balance of risks," the minutes said. "In particular, most participants observed that it was appropriate to move the target range for the federal funds rate toward a more neutral setting because they judged that downside risks to employment had increased over the intermeeting period and that upside risks to inflation had either diminished or not increased." Tariffs were a significant part of the discussion, with a general feeling that President Donald Trump's levies would not be a major source of lasting inflation after pushing prices higher this year. The committee's sentiment on rates matched a survey the Fed sends to primary dealers in financial markets, the summary said. "Almost all respondents to the Desk survey expected a 25 basis point cut in the target range for the federal funds rate at this meeting, and around half expected an additional cut at the October meeting," the minutes stated. "The vast majority of survey respondents expected at least two 25 basis point cuts by year-end, with around half expecting three cuts over that time." One basis point equals 0.01%, so a 25 basis point move is the equivalent of a quarter percentage point. Along with the unusual level of diverse opinions, policymakers now face fallout from the government shutdown. Data providers such as the Labor and Commerce departments have shuttered operations while the impasse continues and are not releasing or collecting data. Should the shutdown not end by the FOMC's Oct. 28-29 meeting, policymakers essentially will be flying blind on key economic metrics for inflation, unemployment and consumer spending. Market pricing implies a near certainty that the Fed will cut both at the upcoming meeting and one in December, but that decision could be influenced by the lack of data. Correction: An earlier version misattributed the opinion of a market survey to that of Fed officials. A survey of market participants indicated that "around half" expect three total cuts this year. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) approved a 25 basis point reduction in the federal funds rate to a target range of 4%-4.25% in September, driven by concerns over labor market weakness and an acknowledged shift in the balance of risks. Most participants observed increased downside risks to employment and diminished upside risks to inflation, warranting a move towards a more neutral policy setting. This decision reflected a near-unanimous view on the immediate cut. Despite broad agreement on the September reduction, significant divergence emerged regarding the future trajectory of monetary policy. A slight 10-9 majority of officials favored two additional quarter-point cuts this year, implying a total of three reductions. Governor Stephen Miran, however, dissented, advocating for a more aggressive 50 basis point cut, indicating a broader range of views on the appropriate easing path. Projections also suggest one more cut in both 2026 and 2027, with the federal funds rate settling around 3% long-term. The effectiveness of future policy decisions faces potential impairment due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has halted the release of critical economic data from the Labor and Commerce departments. This could force policymakers to make decisions "flying blind" on key metrics like inflation and unemployment. Nevertheless, market expectations, as reflected in primary dealer surveys, largely align with the FOMC's sentiment, with a majority anticipating at least two 25 basis point cuts by year-end.
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