Several Fed officials have indicated that may work as a substitute to further rate rises, while still stressing rates will remain higher for longer. Over 80% of economists, 91 of 111, had no rate cut in their forecast until at least the second quarter of next year. That 55% majority slipped from over 70% in a September poll, extending a trend of rate cut calls being pushed to later. As recently as July, a majority of economists polled said the Fed would start cutting by end-March. All but two of 28 respondents to an extra question said the bigger risk was the first rate cut comes later than they expect.

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Persons: Brett Ryan, Jerome Powell, it's, Lawrence Werther, Prerana Bhat, Rahul Trivedi, Sarupya Ganguly, Ross Finley, Jonathan Cable Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve, Reuters, Fed, Deutsche Bank, Economic, of New, Daiwa, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, of New York