Minutes of latest Federal Reserve meeting reveal deep divide over interest rates

分组1 - The US Federal Reserve decided to cut interest rates after a nuanced debate about the risks facing the US economy, indicating a finely balanced decision among officials [1][2] - The quarter-point rate cut lowered the benchmark overnight interest rate to a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, marking the third consecutive rate cut due to a slowdown in job creation and rising unemployment [4] - The Fed's new projections suggest only one rate cut is expected next year, with indications that the Fed may remain on hold until new data shows inflation falling or unemployment rising more than anticipated [5][6] 分组2 - There was significant dissent among officials regarding the rate cut, with six officials outright opposing it and some suggesting that keeping the target range unchanged might be appropriate [2][3] - The lack of official data during the government shutdown has impacted policymakers' views on managing risk, with calls for more labor market and inflation data to inform future decisions [6] - Upcoming data releases for jobs and consumer prices are scheduled for January, with the next Fed meeting on January 27-28, where investors expect the benchmark rate to remain unchanged [7]