POLL-Fed rate hike on Wednesday now likely, say economists, and at least one more to follow

BENGALURU, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve will raise its interest rate on Wednesday and deliver at least one more hike by the end of March, according to a majority of economists polled by Reuters, reversing a fragile no-change consensus that prevailed before official data on Friday showed firm inflation.

A run of strong economic data following Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole speech, widely perceived as hawkish, and prominent hike pricing from markets already made several economists rethink rate-hold calls.

But a new regime under Warsh of no rate guidance, along with heightened uncertainty, had left few economists ready to commit.

Now, an 85% majority of economists, 86 of 101, in the Reuters survey conducted after Friday's inflation report said the Fed would raise rates by a quarter percentage point to 3.75%-4.00% at its September 15-16 meeting, the first increase since July 2023.