When the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point in September, it wasn't a particularly surprising move. At that point, the Fed was expected to make its first rate cut of the year in response to cooling inflation.

Despite the increase in rates, some home buyers were returning to the market, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The market composite index — a measure of mortgage a

Rising US debt and economic headwinds suggest that further rate cuts may not effectively lower Treasury rates or other loan rates. Read my analysis here.

October's Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures changes in the cost of consumer goods and services, showed that annual inflation rose by 2.6%. That's not an alarmingly high rate of inflation. It's also only a modest uptick from September's CPI reading, which measured annual inflation at 2.4%.

However, the Fed takes a risk if it brings inflation down too much. Any major, rapid decline in economic activity can cause a major spike in joblessness, leading to a recession. You might hear the phrase "soft landing," which refers to the balancing act of keeping inflation in check and unemployment low.

An additional Federal Reserve rate cut is expected to be issued this week. Here's why you should open a CD anyway.

US mortgage rates continued to rise, building on a recent run-up after Donald Trump won the presidential election.