A year after economists were bracing for a recession, the odds of a soft landing, easing inflation and interest rate cuts are looking up. The Federal Reserve could begin to cut rates in mid-2024, according to the latest CNBC Fed Survey. More than half of the 35 economists, strategists and analysts surveyed built in a rate cut by June, with that number rising to 69 percent by July. Respondents also pegged the odds of a recession at 41 percent, down 8 points from the October survey and the lowest level since spring 2022 when the Fed launched its interest rate hike crusade to tamp down rampant inflation. Inflation, ... (full story)