Part 7/11:
Financial markets have remained fairly steady, with futures trading flat and little immediate reaction to recent inflation data. Investors appear to prefer stability; they are waiting for more clarity on whether the Federal Reserve will adjust interest rates.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell faces mounting political pressure. The Trump administration and some analysts argue that the Fed’s rate should be cut to stimulate growth, especially given the low inflation environment. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson has acknowledged that current inflation is "not the catastrophe" some predicted, and hints that the Fed’s cautious stance may continue until more definitive signals emerge.