Fed’s Waller signals rate hold if inflation cools

TREE NEWS update: Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said his next rate decision will be “significantly influenced” by August inflation data due next week. In prepared remarks for a Reuters event, he hinted at leaning toward a rate hike, but softened in Q&A, expecting “reasonable” inflation. “If inflation continues to make progress toward the 2% target, then I would be willing to support keeping the policy rate at its current level,” he said, adding that hot data would prompt a hike.