Persistent inflation above the Fed’s 2% target, with September CPI at 3.7% year-over-year and core PCE near 3.1%, combined with strong Q3 GDP growth of 3.4% annualized and resilient labor market conditions at 4.2% unemployment, has anchored the federal funds rate target range at 3.75–4.00% following the October 28 hold. Markets now price a high probability of a 25-basis-point hike at the December 9 FOMC meeting, consistent with the September dot plot median of 4.1% for end-2026. This path implies limited scope for cuts before 2027 absent softer inflation prints or labor market weakening, as policymakers emphasize data-dependent decisions to restore price stability while economic activity expands at a robust pace.