Warsh Comments Boost Bets on Fed Rate Hold in October

Fed Chair Warsh refrained from signalling the outcome of this month’s FOMC meeting, but said hotter-than-expected inflation had not altered his assessment of the US economy, prompting traders to further scale back expectations of an October rate hike. Speaking at an IMF summit in Bangkok, Chair Warsh said that “I don’t prejudge meetings. I don’t believe in saying now what I might do at the meetings that we have in the balance of this year", but added that "the world has broadly conformed with our expectations”. He also reiterated his concerns over persistent inflation, noting that central banks in the US and elsewhere recognised that price pressures remained uncomfortably elevated. The Fed raised the fed funds rate by 25 basis points 3.75%-4% in September 2026, marking its first increase since 2023. All 19 policymakers backed the move, while a majority also projected a further hike before year-end.

Most Fed policymakers judged that another increase in the target range for the federal funds rate would likely be appropriate by year-end. However, they emphasized that they approached each meeting with an open mind and that future decisions would depend on incoming economic data, its implications for the outlook, and the balance of risks, according to the minutes of the September 15–16, 2026 FOMC meeting. Minutes also showed that all policymakers supported raising the target range for the federal funds rate by 25bps to 3.75%-4%. Participants generally emphasized that inflation remained elevated while the labor market appeared to be near full employment, with some signs of strengthening, and that economic activity was expanding at a solid pace. Furthermore, almost all participants assessed that, while inflation risks were tilted to the upside, risks to the labor market had diminished and were now broadly balanced.

The Fed unanimously raised the target range for the federal funds rate by 25bps to 3.75%-4.00% in September 2026 as expected, marking the first rate hike since 2023. Policymakers noted that inflation remains elevated, and the move aims to support a more timely return to the 2% target. Updated projections showed that 16 of 18 officials see the possibility of at least one more 25bps rate hike later this year with four penciling in two additional rate increases. Chair Warsh again declined to submit his forecasts. Meanwhile, the GDP is seen expanding at a slightly faster pace in 2026 (2.3% vs 2.2% in the June projection) and 2027 (2.4% vs 2.3%). PCE inflation is seen higher this year (3.7% vs 3.6%) but the forecast for 2027 was kept at 2.3%. Core inflation is also seen up in 2026 (3.4% vs 3.3%) but the forecast was left at 2.5% for 2027. The unemployment rate is now projected at 4.1% in both 2026 and 2027, down from the previous forecast of 4.3% for both years.