"Assessing the Case for a Delayed Fed Interest Rate Cut Amid Recession Concerns"

U.S. Federal Reserve officials are cautious about initiating interest rate cuts, citing unprecedented economic conditions and a lack of historical precedent. Recent speeches and higher-than-expected inflation readings have further delayed expectations for a rate cut, with policymakers emphasizing the need for greater confidence in inflation returning to the Fed's 2% target before agreeing to cuts. The Fed remains in a deeper quandary, uncertain about the impact of rate cuts on the economy and the potential risks of premature reductions. Policymakers are now emphasizing the art and intuition of policymaking while remaining "data dependent."