The Fed left rates unchanged in July, but minutes show inf risks dominated officials' outlook. Many officials said further hikes could be needed if inf does not cool; the Fed's use of "many" denotes a sizable bloc short of a majority. At the July mee

2026-08-20

The Fed left rates unchanged in July, but minutes show inf risks dominated officials' outlook. Many officials said further hikes could be needed if inf does not cool; the Fed's use of "many" denotes a sizable bloc short of a majority. At the July meeting July inf and payrolls data were not yet available. Subsequent July data showed inf cooled and the labor market softened, prompting traders to trim odds of a September rate hike. Markets will see additional inf and jobs prints before the next Fed meeting.