LYNN NEARY, host: NPR's business news starts with the Fed charting its next move.</s>LYNN NEARY, host: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke meets with colleagues today for a regular two-day meeting. It comes a week after the Fed made a surprise rate cut aimed at stabilizing global markets and easing concerns over the U.S. economy.</s>LYNN NEARY, host: Today the Fed decides whether to cut rates again. By lowering its key federal funds rate, the Fed encourages banks to lower their rates on loans to consumers and businesses, hopefully stimulating economic activity.</s>LYNN NEARY, host: Yesterday a new report showed new home sales tumbling. That's adding to expectations that the Fed will cut rates another half a percentage point.
As the U.S. Federal Reserve begins a regularly scheduled two-day meeting Tuesday, one question looms: Will continued concern over the economy prompt another cut in interest rates?