Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently opened the door for the central bank to cut rates next month .

Powell had previously cited risks of inflation from tariffs and a weakening labor market as reasons for not lowering rates. “The balance of risks appears to be shifting,” he said at a conference in Wyoming.

President Donald Trump has been calling for interest rate cuts for most of his second term. Some experts, and other Federal Reserve officials , have cautioned against cutting rates because it could limit the Fed’s tools if a major economic downturn happens.

Question: Should the Federal Reserve cut rates next month?

Economists

James Hamilton, UC San Diego

YES: The latest data show a significant slowdown in new jobs, and high interest rates are weighing on real estate

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