Fed's Hesitation on Rate Cuts Risks Economic Stability, Experts Warn

Economists are sounding alarms that the Federal Reserve might be on the brink of repeating past mistakes, this time by delaying interest rate cuts, potentially ushering in a recession. After admitting to being tardy in raising rates amidst the inflation surge of 2021 and 2022, the Fed now faces criticism for possibly acting too sluggishly as inflation begins to subside. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, warns of the increasing danger the longer the Fed hesitates to lower rates. With inflation gradually approaching the Fed’s 2% target and economic risks mounting, Zandi advocates for a reduction in rates as early as March or, at the very latest, May.