The Federal Reserve announced a key interest rate cut on Wednesday, the second such reduction this year, as it aims to bolster economic growth and hiring.

The cut brings the Fed’s benchmark rate down to approximately 3.9% from its previous level of 4.1%.

The Fed acknowledged signs of softening in the labor market. “Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low through August,” the Fed said.

It noted that recent private-sector data, which it is monitoring because the government shutdown has delayed official releases past August, aligns with these trends.

This reduction is a reversal of the aggressive rate increases the Fed implemented in 2023 and 2024, when it raised rates to roughly 5.3% to combat the most significant inflation surge in four d

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