---
title: Fed's Waller Leans Toward a December Rate Hike, and a Half Point if Core Inflation Stays Near 0.3%
description: Fed governor Christopher Waller backs a quarter-point December hike even if October CPI improves, and says a half-point rise should be considered.
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2026-11-10T15:23:47.129Z
updated: 2026-11-10T15:23:47.150Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/fed-waller-december-rate-hike-half-point
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/fed-governor-christopher-waller-564971.webp
categories: Economy
content_type: News
region: United States
publication: Sovereign Magazine
access: members
schema_type: Article
about:
  - type: Organization
    name: Federal Reserve
---

Christopher Waller, a Federal Reserve Board governor, said on Tuesday that he is leaning toward supporting a quarter-point rate hike in December even if the October consumer price index, scheduled for release hours after his speech, shows inflation improving. If the October report looks like the past two monthly readings, with core CPI around 0.3% or higher, Waller said a 50 basis point hike should be considered at the December meeting.

> "While I am hoping for an improvement over September, even if this occurs, I would still support a 25 basis point increase in the FOMC's policy rate at our December meeting."
> — Christopher J. Waller, Governor, Federal Reserve Board

"Hiking only 25 basis points would put our credibility at risk, a risk I am not eager to take," Waller said in [a speech at the Bank of England Watchers Conference](https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/waller20261110a.htm) in London, hosted by King's Business School and the Money, Macro and Finance Society.

---

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