Inflation isn't going away. Here's what that means for interest rates.

The Federal Reserve may increase interest rates more rapidly to combat high inflation, according to several Wall Street analysts. Aditya Bhave, a U.S. economist at BofA Global Research, anticipates the central bank will raise its benchmark rate by a quarter-point each during the upcoming meetings in December, January, and March.

TD Securities analysts have even raised their forecast to three consecutive quarter-point hikes, up from two previously, as inflationary pressures seem to be spreading across the economy. The latest Consumer Price Index revealed that October's inflation surged more than anticipated, with a 0.4% increase. TD Securities expressed concern, stating in a note to investors that the data not only surpassed their forecast but also wasn't driven by a single factor, indicating broad price pressures.

Gregory Daco, EY-Parthenon chief economist, believes inflation will continue to rise at a faster-than-expected pace due to supply constraints and high demand, suggesting rate hikes in December and January. For borrowers, this means higher borrowing costs for various types of consumer loans. Interest rate traders estimate a 90% chance of a quarter-point hike at the Fed's next meeting on December 8-9, and a better-than-even chance of another hike at the January 26-27 gathering.

Fed officials have also indicated that more aggressive tightening might be necessary to meet their 2% annual inflation target. High energy prices and robust corporate spending on AI-related equipment are among the factors contributing to inflation, which could persist into 2027 and further strain household purchasing power, as noted by Daco in a report.