The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday after cutting it three times in a row last year, a sign of a more cautious approach as the Fed seeks to gauge where inflation is headed and what policies President Donald Trump may pursue.

After three cuts at the end of last year, Federal Reserve officials paused rate moves as they weigh a solid economy and rising inflation risks. Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, said the central bank was not on a “pre-set course.

Last month, Fed officials signaled they expect just two rate cuts for all of 2025, a shallower path of reductions than previously anticipated. Policymakers will update their projections on the economy and rates at their next meeting in March. This month’s pause in rate cuts comes amid increasing uncertainty about how inflation will evolve.