In a press conference on December 10, 2025, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell outlined the Fed's decision to lower the policy interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, emphasizing the balance between achieving maximum employment and stable prices. Although some important data remains pending, existing indicators show a slight cooling in the labor market and still elevated inflation. The Fed anticipates a 1.7% GDP rise this year, up to 2.3% next year, while the unemployment rate is expected to reach 4.5% by year's end. With high inflation driven by tariffs, Powell highlighted the need for a careful approach to mitigating risks. He noted some dissent within the Committee regarding rate cuts, citing varied assessments of economic risks. Moreover, Powell signaled a cautious outlook for early 2026, stressing the importance of observing incoming economic data before determining future policy adjustments.