At its meeting starting on Tuesday, the US Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time this year. But the central bank must balance its dual mandate to promote maximum employment and keep prices stable, while withstanding growing pressure from Donald Trump to make a “big cut”. At its two-day gathering, the most dovish committee members are set to echo the US president’s calls for a chunky rate reduction in response to slowing job growth. Yet with inflation climbing to 2.9 per cent in August, the case for caution is stronger.
美国联邦储备系统(US Federal Reserve)于周二开始召开会议，市场普遍预计其将于今年首次降息。但该央行必须在履行“双重使命”——促进最大就业和维持物价稳定——之间取得平衡，同时顶住来自唐纳德•特朗普(Donald Trump)要求“大幅降息”的日益增长的压力。在为期两天的会议上，最为鸽派的委员会成员预计将呼应这位美国总统的主张，主张以较大幅度降息以应对就业增长放缓。然而，随着通胀在8月攀升至2.9%，审慎行事的理由更为充分。