Powell Declines to Set Rate-Cut Criteria; Says Tariff Peak Then Decline Could Allow Easing

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Jan. 29 he will not outline specific criteria for another rate cut, and that risks to both sides of the dual mandate have slightly eased, BlockBeats reports. He expects tariffs' impact on goods to peak this year then decline; if that occurs, it would signal scope to ease policy. Short-term inflation expectations have fully retreated, while longer-term expectations reflect confidence in inflation returning to 2%.