Jobs Report Complicates Trump's Push for Lower Rates
Barrons·2026-02-11 14:41

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. jobs report for January complicates President Trump's push for lower interest rates, as the data does not support further rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1] Group 1: Jobs Data - The U.S. added 130,000 jobs in January, which is stronger than expected [1] - The unemployment rate decreased to 4.3%, indicating a tightening labor market [1] Group 2: Federal Reserve Stance - The Federal Reserve is likely to maintain interest rates during the March meeting, influenced by the recent jobs report and comments from voting officials [1] - President Trump has consistently advocated for rate cuts, despite inflation remaining above the Fed's 2% target [1] Group 3: Wage Growth - Wage growth showed signs of firming in January, further complicating the case for additional rate cuts [1] - The combination of job growth and wage increases suggests a resilient economy, which may deter the Fed from lowering rates [1]