With just two weeks to go for the next rate-setting meeting, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller has called for a quarter basis point cut by the central bank. In prepared remarks delivered at the Money Marketeers Forum at New York University,

The inflation gauge the Federal Reserve relies on most to decide whether to raise or lower U.S. interest rates is likely to cement a decision by the central bank to stand pat at its next meeting at the end of July.

“With inflation near target and the upside risks to inflation limited, we should not wait until the labor market deteriorates before we cut the policy rate,” he said. “I believe it makes sense to cut the (Fed’s) policy rate by 25 basis points two weeks from now.” (Twenty-five basis points equals one quarter of an interest rate point.)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index (CPI), a popular inflation gauge, increased in June to 2.7% on an annual basis as prices rose for consumers.

Christopher Waller, a potential contender to be the next chair of the central bank, said the Federal Reserve should not wait for the labor market to weaken to reduce interest rates.

Rising prices across an array of goods from coffee to audio equipment to home furnishings pulled inflation higher.

President Trump floated the idea of firing Jerome Powell — whom he first appointed Federal Reserve chair — earlier this week, after years of on-and-off criticism over interest rates.

What is clear is that the current 4.33% median Fed funds target rate remains well above the inflation trend. Even after the acceleration in consumer prices in June, the policy rate is roughly 1.4 percentage points above headline CPI’s one-year change – close to the biggest gap post-pandemic.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday said the agency’s renovation of two of its buildings is in compliance with plans approved by a local commission, disputing a White House suggestion that they may have violated the law by deviating from those plans.

With June's inflation reading coming in hotter than the month prior, the Fed is under renewed pressure to maintain its current target range for the federal funds rate. Analysts now see little chance of a rate cut in the near term. That means HELOC borrowers are unlikely to see significant rate drops anytime soon.