The Federal Reserve spent a good part of 2022 and 2023 implementing interest rate hikes in response to rampant inflation. But now, the central bank needs to reverse some of those hikes as inflation cools.

The central bank’s decision to pause at its first meeting of 2025 followed a series of cuts that began in September to account for progress already made on getting inflation down. Over the course of three meetings, the Fed lowered rates by a full percentage point to a range of 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent, which was maintained on Wednesday.

The unemployment rate, which is derived from a separate survey, declined to 4% from 4.1% the prior month. Economists expected the unemployment rate to remain unchanged. Average hourly earnings increased 0.5% in January, which was higher than forecast.

After a solid January jobs report, more traders are betting that the Fed’s rate-cut pause might not be so brief.

The dollar index (DXY00) today is up by +0.05%. The dollar is climbing with T-note yields today after the hawkish US Jan payroll report reduced the chances to 8% from 16% for a Fed rate cut at next month’s FOMC meeting.