The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to vote next Wednesday on whether to raise, lower or maintain interest rates at current levels amid heightened concern that a recession may be looming for the US economy.

In recent weeks, mortgage rates have fallen ahead of the Federal Reserve’s March meeting, and the spring homebuying season is underway. Are rate cuts on the table for the year ahead, and how might factors

The Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady through the first half of the year, before delivering two reductions beginning in September, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Softer U.S. labor market conditions against the backdrop of trade-policy uncertainty have prompted Barclays to raise its expectations to two rate cuts by the Federal Reserve for the year from one.

Barclays has lowered its expectations; now, it thinks the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates twice this year instead of once. This is due to unclear trade policy and the weakening U.S. job market.