Bitcoin holds as Fed prioritizes inflation over rate cuts

Why inflation risk delays restarting Fed interest rate cuts

The federal reserve is debating whether to restart interest rate cuts, but officials see inflation risk as the primary obstacle. With price pressures still above target, premature easing could backfire.

according to CNBC, Jerome Powell has stressed that policy will ease only after the Committee gains greater confidence inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent. That stance keeps the bar high for near-term cuts.

According to the Dallas Fed, Lorie Logan has warned that persistent inflation alongside resilient demand and only modest labor market slack leaves little room to cut without slipping into an inappropriately accommodative stance.

What would trigger the Fed to restart interest rate cuts

Triggers would likely include a durable downshift in core PCE inflation, especially in nonhousing services, coupled with slower wage growth and stable inflation expectations. The sequence would need to persist, not just a single report.

Additional confirmation could come from accumulating labor market slack: cooler payroll gains, softer job openings and quits, and a gently rising unemployment rate. Together, these would indicate easing price pressures and reduced overheating.

Several policymakers have cautioned that cutting too soon risks entrenching high inflation. “With inflation still running hot … Further rate cuts risk allowing high inflation to persist even longer,” said Jeffrey Schmid, President of the Kansas City Fed, as reported by Yahoo Finance (https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/fed-schmid-warns-against-rate-154609031.html).

For household borrowers, a restart of cuts would filter through unevenly. Mortgage and credit card rates may adjust gradually, reflecting funding costs, term premiums, and lender risk management.

For businesses, lower policy rates could ease interest expenses and support cash flow, but investment plans would still hinge on demand, margins, and confidence. Supply shocks or tariffs could complicate the inflation path even as policy loosens.

Financial markets could initially reprice rates, credit, and equities as probabilities shift. At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) trades near $67,300 with bearish sentiment and roughly 12.17% volatility, indicating elevated risk conditions rather than advice.

FAQ about interest rate cuts

Which inflation metrics (like core PCE) need to move lower for the Fed to gain confidence to cut?

The Fed focuses on core PCE, notably nonhousing services, plus wage growth and inflation expectations. Officials seek several consecutive monthly readings pointing convincingly toward the 2% target.

How much labor market slack does the Fed want to see before easing policy?

The Fed looks for accumulating slack: slower payrolls, fewer openings and quits, and a modestly higher unemployment rate. Evidence would need to be persistent enough to lower inflation risk.

Policy outcomes depend on incoming data and risk management; specific timelines remain uncertain.

Inflation shocks or supply constraints could delay easing, while clear disinflation could reopen discussion of cuts.