Fed’s Deepening Split Clouds the Path for 2026 Rate Cuts

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve is experiencing significant divisions among its officials regarding future interest rate cuts, with projections indicating only one cut in 2026, reflecting a wide range of individual forecasts from policymakers [1][10] - A notable minority of seven Fed officials oppose cutting rates in 2026, while eight anticipate at most two cuts next year, and four are considering more aggressive actions [2][10] - The upcoming economic data will be crucial in determining whether a consensus can be reached or if divisions will deepen [3] Economic Outlook - The Fed's median forecasts predict real GDP growth of 2.3% in 2026, an increase from the previous forecast of 1.8% in September, despite a slower anticipated growth of 1.7% for 2025 [7][10] - Fed officials expect the unemployment rate to rise to 4.5% by year-end but project it will decrease back to 4.4% by the end of 2026 [11] - Inflation is expected to decline towards the Fed's 2% target, with forecasts suggesting a deceleration to 2.5% in 2026, slightly better than the previous estimate of 2.6% [12][11] Policy Dynamics - The next Fed chair will face challenges in unifying a committee with a strong hawkish presence, as the current chair's term ends in May [4][6] - President Trump has expressed a desire for lower interest rates, which may influence the selection of the next Fed chair [5][6] - Analysts predict that while the Fed may pause rate cuts in January, further reductions are likely later in the year, with expectations of a 25-basis-point cut in March and June [16][17]