Although inflation has fallen sharply from a 40-year high recorded in June 2022, it is still much higher than the 2% target set by the Fed, analysts said. On Tuesday, the US Department of Commerce said that core PCE, the Fed's preferred measure of inflation, increased 3.5% in the 12 months through October. Analysts at TDS said, Persistent inflation could force the Fed to keep interest rates within a limited range through the first half of next year.