Christopher Waller

Rule Changes

Said a half-point increase should be on the table if core CPI was around 0.3%

October's US inflation report arrived Tuesday without a year-over-year number, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics had said it would. The agency could not calculate one because it never collected prices for October 2025, when a federal funding lapse shut down most of its survey work.

Updated 10 hours ago

Money Moves

Said on November 10 that a 0.3% core CPI reading would make him consider a half-point rate hike at the December 8-9 meeting

Consumer prices rose 0.4% in October from September, and core prices rose 0.3% for a third straight month, the Labor Department said November 10. The report kept the Federal Reserve on course to raise rates at its December 8-9 meeting. Governor Christopher Waller said a 0.3% core reading would make him consider a half-point hike.

Updated Yesterday

Money Moves

Urged further rate hikes on November 10 and said a 50-basis-point increase should be considered in December

Consumer prices rose 0.4% in October from September, above the 0.3% forecast, and core prices rose 0.3%. The report had no year-over-year figure because the 2025 government shutdown prevented data collection. Gas prices had fallen below $4 a gallon, and inflation-adjusted after-tax incomes had fallen 0.3% in September.

Updated Yesterday