Fed Execs Still Expect Interest Rate Cuts This Year

Good news for investors hoping for lower borrowing costs: Most Federal Reserve officials still expect interest rate cuts this year, according to minutes released from its recent meeting, Forbes Daily reported.

Tariffs could complicate the Fed’s efforts to manage inflation, with proposed levies likely raising U.S. copper prices, for example.

However, tariffs could complicate the Fed’s efforts to manage inflation. Many members of the central bank’s rate-setting committee noted that the inflationary effects of tariffs could be limited if trade deals are reached quickly.

After President Donald Trump suggested he would implement a 50% tariff on copper imports, the metal's price saw its largest intraday surge since the 1980s before paring back some of its gains.

The proposed levies would likely raise U.S. copper prices, analysts said, as just over half of the refined copper consumed in the country is imported.

Higher costs could also lead to increased theft, as copper becomes a more valuable target for criminals. It is the third-most consumed metal in the U.S., used widely in electrical wiring, plumbing, and electronics.