While Powell made it clear that the primary concern for some is a cooling job market, others inside the Fed are warning persistent inflation will limit room for more easing. Powell’s comments came after the Federal Open Market Committee voted 10-2 to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point,

Follow along with live updates from October's Federal Reserve meeting. Get real-time analysis of Jerome Powell’s comments, market reaction, and what the Fed’s move means for inflation, jobs, and your money.

The Fed leader discussed the reasoning behind the central bank’s decision to cut rates at its second straight meeting as well as the move to stop shrinking its multitrillion-dollar asset portfolio.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell plans to serve out his term, which ends in May of 2026, but that isn't stopping Treasury Secretary Bessent from moving ahead with finding his replacement.

"The reaction of the bond market should certainly give Fed officials pause," wrote Ed Yardeni, head of Yardeni Research and coiner of the term "bond vigilantes" to describe buyers' strikes in the fixed income markets. "The bond market isn't buying the Fed's cover story that interest rates were too restrictive."

In February, the 12 presidents at the regional Federal Reserve banks will need to be reconfirmed in their jobs by the central bank’s Board of Governors. President Donald Trump’s effort to gain control

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that a lack of key data due to the government shutdown will cause the central bank to be cautious until it has a clearer view of the economy.