๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ?
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak today, September 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.
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Will He Discuss a Potential Rate Cut?
Yes, heโs expected to address the possibilityโbut with caution.
Powellโs speech on August 22 opened the door to a September rate cut, highlighting a cooling labor market and elevated inflation. While not a firm commitment, it signaled growing openness to easing monetary policy.
He described the job market as being in a "curious balance"โwith job growth slowing but unemployment still lowโand suggested that risks to employment may warrant adjusting the policy stance.
Market reaction was swift: expectations for a 25 basis point cut in September rose significantly, with CME FedWatch and analysts increasing probabilities from around 75% up to as much as 87โ91%.
However, Powell maintained a nuanced, data-dependent toneโnot committing explicitly to a cut but leaving it clearly on the table.
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Bottom Line for Today
Yes, he likely will talk about the prospect of a rate cut.
But expect him to remain fairly cautious, emphasizing that whether a cut happens depends entirely on upcoming economic dataโlike job and inflation reports due in early to mid-September.
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Summary Table
Question Answer
Is Powell speaking today? Yes โ September 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET, at Jackson Hole.
Will he discuss a rate cut? Likely yes โ he signaled openness to a September cut at his August speech.
How confident is the cut? Markets see strong odds (75โ91%), but Powell stressed data-dependence.
Tone of his messaging? Balanced and cautiousโnot a firm promise, but an open door to easing.