The Federal Reserve can stop raising rates before inflation reaches 2% if officials believe inflation will reach the target without another increase. Minutes released Oct. 7 explain September's unanimous decision to raise the main interest rate to 3.75%-4%. Most participants expected another increase by year-end, although participants differed over whether higher rates were precautionary or necessary. Broadly slower price increases with stable employment could support a pause, while rising unemployment and broader layoffs would make another increase harder to justify. Holding rates steady would not promise cuts or make financing cheap again.