The US Federal Reserve remains undecided about an additional rate cut in December — with Jerome Powell recently citing internal policy divides and lack of federal government data as key hurdles. The central bank had voted 10-2 to lower the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points last week to temper additional weakening of the job market. Policymakers now warn that elevated risks to both its employment and inflation mandates have overshadowed the possibility of anothe rate cut by December 10.

“We’re going to collect every scrap of data we can find, evaluate it and think carefully about it. And that’s our job. If you asked me could it affect … the December meeting, I’m not saying it’s going to, but yeah, you could imagine that. You know, what do you do if you’re driving in the fog?

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