By Alex Leary 

President Trump argued Monday on Twitter that it was "incredible" that Federal Reserve policy members were considering raising interest rates again, continuing his public campaign against tighter monetary policy.

The Fed will conclude its final policy meeting of the year Wednesday. Analysts widely expect the central bank to raise short-term interest rates, but the focus will be on the outlook for next year. Volatile markets and mixed inflation data have amplified investors' doubts about how many times the Fed can raise rates.

"It is incredible that with a very strong dollar and virtually no inflation, the outside world blowing up around us, Paris is burning and China way down, the Fed is even considering yet another interest rate hike," Mr. Trump tweeted. "Take the Victory!"

Private economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal have tempered their expectations for the path of interest rates next year, and many foresee the Federal Reserve cutting rates starting in 2020. Economist have pointed to the housing market, trade tensions with China and others, and lower inflation as possible reasons for the Fed to adopt a wait-and-see approach early next year.

Mr. Trump has spent months criticizing the Fed. He blamed the Fed for October's stock-market selloff, calling the central bank "out of control, " and said that Fed Chairman Jerome Powell seemed to enjoy raising rates. He later called the Fed "a much bigger problem than China," referring to the trade battle.

Write to Alex Leary at alex.leary@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 17, 2018 09:25 ET (14:25 GMT)