The central bank remains cautious, even as calls for rate cuts grow louder from the White House and other policymakers.

Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell has reiterated that rate decisions will be data-driven — by inflation, and employment.

Powell has said politics don't play a part in Fed rate decisions. He and his colleagues have held the key overnight borrowing rate in place since December, though markets largely expect a cut is on the way not at the Fed's July meeting, but in September.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller and Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, both appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term in the White House, have said they'd consider cutting the benchmark policy rate as soon as the central bank's July 29-30 meeting.

The latest round of tariff threats from President Trump could spark fresh concerns about inflation, which might force the Federal Reserve to maintain its wait-and-see posture on interest-rate cuts, sa

U.S. President Donald Trump's fresh tariff announcements make it "messy" to interpret the state of the economy, Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Austan Goolsbee said, adding that he is hearing a lot of anxiety from business contacts about coming inflation that is not yet obvious in the data.

While generally saying the labor market remains solid and inflation elevated but showing progress toward the Fed’s 2% annual target, the minutes reflect a mixed assessment of whether the tariffs will spur inflation or be more of a one-time hit that will not lead to higher long-term price increases.

Here’s how President Trump can take on the Fed’s refusal to cut rates: Have the Treasury issue bonds in gold, providing a simple metric to show if the dollar’s value is being undermined or maintained.