Washington: The US Federal Reserve opened its final chapter of 2025 with a small but meaningful step, trimming its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points even as the country digests delayed economic data from the recent government shutdown. With this move, which was announced after a closely watched meeting in Washington, the federal funds rate now stands in the range of 3.5 to 3.75 per cent, its lowest level since late 2022, according to a report by CBS News.

This reduction becomes the third straight cut since September, adding up to a total easing of 0.75 percentage points for the year. The central bank has been handling a difficult moment in the US economy, where job creation is cooling noticeably while inflation remains stubborn in key pockets.

Even without the full set of timel

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