Analysis: The urgency for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates has diminished in the near term.

Analysts point out that the US unemployment rate of 4.4% in December, unchanged from September, eased concerns about a jump to 4.6% in November. While higher than the lowest levels seen during the post-pandemic hiring boom, this unemployment rate remains quite moderate by historical standards. These figures may marginalize discussions about a Fed rate cut in January—with a lower unemployment rate and limited initial jobless claims, officials may not feel much urgency to further lower rates after three consecutive cuts in 2025. (Jinshi)