Markets widely expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates for the fourth time this year at its December meeting. The question is what the central bank will do next year. Recent sticky inflation prints and evidence the US economy is growing at a solid pace have raised doubts that the Fed will bring down rates as quickly as it previously

Powell just a week after the meeting said the economy was "not sending any signals that we need to be in a hurry to lower rates."

Despite inflation in some sectors remaining outside the Federal Reserve's benchmark of 2%, officials indicated they are pleased with the current easing of interest rates, and more gradual cuts may follow.

Many” senior Federal Reserve officials said a more gradual approach to reducing interest rates was warranted in light of ongoing uncertainty about the U.S. economy and the appropriate level of borrowing costs,