The US Federal Reserve could cut rates three or four times this year if inflation data cooperates, with a first cut possible before July, a senior bank official said Thursday.

Investors weigh an important matter: whether barriers are stronger to raising rates—or cutting them.

To summarize, the Federal Reserve has already lowered by 50% the number of anticipated interest rate cuts in 2025. It was four in September, but that number dropped to two at the December meeting. Policymakers may revise that number lower if their economic projections once again prove incorrect.

The Federal Reserve isn’t likely to make a move on interest rates over the next few months, Charles Schwab (SCHW) Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders said Thursday. “The Fed is the pause mode,

The economy has been running hotter than expected lately, raising the possibility that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates higher for longer, and may not even cut interest rates in 2025 as policymakers had predicted.

The Federal Reserve will meet eight times in 2025 ... likely to move the needle after its upcoming Jan. 29 meeting. The CME Group's FedWatch tool tracks the likelihood of target rate changes.

The effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy suggested” restoring 2% inflation “could take longer than previously anticipated,” according to the Fed minutes released Wednesday.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller told CNBC on Thursday that the central bank could lower interest rates multiple times this year if inflation eases as he is expecting. "As long as the data comes in good on inflation or continues on that path, then I can certainly see rate cuts happening sooner than maybe the markets are pricing in," he said.

Investors are now pricing in just one interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve this year. Investors expect the central bank's federal-funds rate to end the year just above 4%, according to LSEG data based on market pricing.

Bitcoin has given up all of its January gains as worries over inflation and Fed monetary policy push traders to cut risk.

CME Group's FedWatch tool ... Recent economic trends suggest Federal Reserve officials could indeed do the unthinkable and pivot back to rate increases this year. Here's what investors should ...