Here are the challenges the Fed faces ahead of this week's meeting

Economic Overview - The Federal Reserve faces challenges in navigating a rapidly changing economy with limited tools, under political pressure [1] - US economy is a complex mix of adaptation and experimentation, making data interpretation difficult [4] Immigration Impact - St Louis Fed research suggests that slowing immigration may cause the US labor market data to appear weaker than it is [2] - Previously, the US needed approximately 150,000 new jobs monthly to maintain expansion, but with reduced immigration, the break-even rate might be closer to 50,000 new jobs monthly [2] Trade and Tariffs - Boston Fed indicates that peak tariff uncertainty might be behind us, which is positive for small and medium-sized businesses [3] - Easier access to credit outweighs lingering trade worries for small and medium-sized businesses [3] AI and Automation - San Francisco Fed found that companies facing more trade uncertainty are adopting new tech and automation faster [3] - Firms are automating to mitigate policy shocks [4]