Powell hints at supporting another rate cut later this month as the U.S. job market cools down

ChainCatcher news, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned on Tuesday that the U.S. labor market is showing further signs of distress, suggesting he may be prepared to support another interest rate cut later this month. Powell pointed out: "The downside risks to employment have increased." This is the strongest indication so far that Federal Reserve officials believe they have enough evidence to support another 25 basis point cut in U.S. borrowing costs.

Powell added that even without new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (delayed due to the government shutdown), privately produced labor market indicators and internal Federal Reserve research provide sufficient reason to indicate that the job market is cooling. "Existing evidence" shows that "layoffs and hiring numbers remain very low," while "households' views on job opportunities and businesses' perceptions of hiring difficulties continue to trend downward." These remarks indicate that Powell is becoming more dovish on monetary policy.