• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
FinanceFed interest rates

Interest rate cut expectations keep getting deeper as Powell’s ‘risk bias’ changes

Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
Eleanor Pringle
By
Eleanor Pringle
Eleanor Pringle
Senior Reporter, Economics and Markets
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 29, 2024, 6:57 AM ET
Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States Jerome Powell
Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States Jerome Powell has signaled a shift in his approach to the base rate.Bonnie Cash—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

At the beginning of the month Wall Street was confident—but not convinced—that it would be getting its much-anticipated interest rate cut come September.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech sealed the deal for many that a reduction is indeed imminent. The rate currently sits at 5.25%—a more than two-decade high.

But a combination of economic data and hints from FOMC members—including Powell himself—is now leading analysts to wonder if the cut will be more significant than previously expected. Powell’s “risk bias” is changing, according to some.

Previously the likes of Bank of America and investment fund Vanguard had factored in a cut of 0.25%, or 25 basis points (bps), next month, but arguments for a 50 bps (0.5%) cut are beginning to gather pace.

JPMorgan, for example, this week said it is expecting the Fed to cut by 100 bps—an entire percentage point—by the end of the year.

With just three meetings left that would mean at least one of the cuts would have to be 50 bps, paired with two cuts at 25 bps.

The shift in expectations comes as turbulent data continue to make the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) dual mandate harder to read.

That double mandate is to bring down inflation—which thus far it has been relatively successful in doing without plunging the economy into a recession—but also maximizing employment.

A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics this week revealed that unemployment rates in metropolitan areas are creeping up while demand for workers is softening.

Conversely, productivity is on the rise, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said earlier this month.

This has created an “odd combination of rising concerns about a U.S. slide into recession alongside financial market optimism about the future path of business sector performance,” JPMorgan wrote in a note this week.

The bank added in the note seen by Fortune that the Fed is shifting from a gradualist attitude to a fear of cutting interest rates too late.

This concern was aired by Fed chairman Austin Goolsbee in an exclusive interview with Fortune earlier this month.

He cautioned: “The conditions were very different when we set the rate at this level. Every month that we get an inflation like the one we just saw—where inflation is lower than expected—we just tightened in real terms.”

As a result he’s asking himself, and his fellow FOMC members, to ponder: “When does the Fed really need to be that tight?”

“The answer is you only want to be that tight for as long as you have to and if you’re afraid that the economy is about to overheat,” he explained. “This, to me, is not what an overheating economy looks like.“

“So I do think we need to be cognizant of being this tight for too long, because if we are, we’re going to have to think about the real side of the mandate, and employment is gonna get worse.”

Fed is reevaluating risk

Whether experts are pricing in a 25 bps cut, a 50 bps cut, or even an emergency off-schedule cut, one thing they can all agree on is that the FOMC is changing tack.

In his speech at Jackson Hole last week, Chair Powell said: “The time has come for policy to adjust. The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.”

This suggests Powell and his peers are looking to balance both sides of their mandate, writes Wharton Professor Jeremy Siegel in his weekly comment for investment experts WisdomTree.

In his commentary on Monday, Siegel wrote: “While Powell commented that some of the increase in unemployment is due to increased labor supply, he also highlighted a clear softening in the labor market and that further weakening is not welcomed.”

The emeritus professor of finance at the University of Pennsylvania falls into the camp of cutting the base rate—currently between 5.25% and 5.5%—”to 4% or less without delay.”

“In other words, [Powell] will not seek to use higher unemployment as a force to finish the job of getting inflation to 2%. This is a very important shift,” wrote Siegel, who is also a senior economist at WisdomTree.

While JPMorgan may not subscribe to Siegel’s call for an immediate cut, analysts at America’s biggest bank have also noted the change in Powell’s “risk bias,” as they call it.

“Last week’s communication from Chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech confirms that this shift in risk bias has taken place and that the Fed does not want to see labor conditions ease further,” they wrote.

“We believe it puts the Fed on track to deliver a roughly 100 bp step-down in rates by the end of this year.”

In the event the Fed doesn’t cut rates at all this year, not only would Powell face a market mutiny but that would also risk plunging the economy into a recession, some analysts think.

“We’re not saying that a recession is coming,” wrote Thierry Wizman and Gareth Berry, FX and rates strategists at Macquarie in a note seen by Fortune, but added without cuts “a recession would be much likelier.”

About the Author
Eleanor Pringle
By Eleanor PringleSenior Reporter, Economics and Markets
LinkedIn icon

Eleanor Pringle is an award-winning senior reporter at Fortune covering news, the economy, and personal finance. Eleanor previously worked as a business correspondent and news editor in regional news in the U.K. She completed her journalism training with the Press Association after earning a degree from the University of East Anglia.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Forget the ceasefire — The U.S. and Iran are still locked in combat over the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran tries to shut down a competing route
Middle EastIran
Forget the ceasefire — The U.S. and Iran are still locked in combat over the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran tries to shut down a competing route
By Jason MaJune 27, 2026
2 hours ago
The contrarian view for Fed rate cuts: Payrolls will weaken, inflation will plunge, and Kevin Warsh was ‘largely performative’ in his hawkishness
EconomyFederal Reserve
The contrarian view for Fed rate cuts: Payrolls will weaken, inflation will plunge, and Kevin Warsh was ‘largely performative’ in his hawkishness
By Jason MaJune 27, 2026
2 hours ago
Atlanta Fed chief selection delay gives Warsh a say
BankingFederal Reserve
Atlanta Fed chief selection delay gives Warsh a say
By Jonnelle Marte, Saleha Mohsin and BloombergJune 27, 2026
10 hours ago
SpaceX, Charter discussed mobile phone partnership in U.S.
North Americaspace
SpaceX, Charter discussed mobile phone partnership in U.S.
By Kelcee Griffis and BloombergJune 27, 2026
10 hours ago
S&P keeps U.S. sovereign rating at AA+ with stable outlook
EconomyDebt
S&P keeps U.S. sovereign rating at AA+ with stable outlook
By Michael Mackenzie and BloombergJune 27, 2026
11 hours ago
erik
AIJobs
‘It’s not going away’: The Stanford economist who called the AI entry-level jobs crisis early has the receipts
By Nick LichtenbergJune 27, 2026
11 hours ago

Most Popular

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
14 hours ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
3 days ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
4 days ago
The 33-year-old executive Satya Nadella is trusting to fix Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant
AI
The 33-year-old executive Satya Nadella is trusting to fix Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant
By Sebastian HerreraJune 27, 2026
15 hours ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
3 days ago
Current price of silver as of Friday, June 26, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Friday, June 26, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 26, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.