Some investors had clung to a bit of hope that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates at its next meeting on July 30. Tuesday's report on inflation brought the chances of that down even further.

“With inflation near target and the upside risks to inflation limited, we should not wait until the labor market deteriorates before we cut the policy rate,” he said. “I believe it makes sense to cut the (Fed’s) policy rate by 25 basis points two weeks from now.” (Twenty-five basis points equals one quarter of an interest rate point.)

A top Federal Reserve official said late Thursday that the central bank should cut its key interest rate later this month, carving out a different view than that of Chair Jerome Powell, who has been harshly criticized by the White House for delaying

The president and his administration could be laying the groundwork to remove Chairman Jerome Powell for cause.

Christopher Waller, a potential contender to be the next chair of the central bank, said the Federal Reserve should not wait for the labor market to weaken to reduce interest rates.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday he continues to believe that the U.S. central bank should cut its interest rate target at the end of the month amid mounting risks to the economy and the strong likelihood that tariff-induced inflation will not drive a persistent rise in price pressures.

A new report shows inflation has picked up and analysts believe the prices of many goods increased, in part, because of President Trump’s tariffs. It will play into decisions by the Federal Reserve about when and whether to cut interest rates and comes as the president and his team have ramped up their pressure campaign on Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

“It’s by now widely agreed, almost all over the world: If you leave monetary policy in political hands, you’ll get too much inflation,” Alan Blinder, a professor of economics at Princeton University and former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, told ABC News.

U.S. retail sales rebounded more than expected in June, suggesting a modest improvement in economic activity and giving the Federal Reserve cover to delay cutting interest rates while it gauges the inflation fallout from import tariffs.