Fed to Cut Rates at a Moderate Pace as U.S. Job Growth Lingers Near Zero and AI Uncertainty Shapes 2026 Outlook

COINOTAG News reports that on December 17, Federal Reserve Governor Waller described US job growth as near zero, signaling a fragile payroll trend that warrants caution as policy makers digest incoming data. The remarks keep the focus on the labor market amid evolving policy expectations and macro risk.

Beyond the immediate data, the effect of artificial intelligence on employment remains uncertain, with productivity gains potentially supporting a healthier 2026 labor outlook even as near-term hiring stalls.

With inflation unlikely to re-accelerate, the labor data argue for a cautious policy path. The Federal Reserve can proceed with a gradual sequence of interest-rate cuts and a measured monetary policy adjustment, avoiding abrupt moves while monitoring evolving indicators.