Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester finds the recent softer inflation data encouraging but wants to see a few more months of similar data before considering interest rate cuts. Mester emphasizes the need to observe declining inflation and short-run inflation expectations alongside labor market conditions before deciding on rate reductions. The Fed has projected only one rate cut this year, maintaining the current rate range of 5.25% to 5.5%. Mester is set to retire at the end of the month and will be succeeded by Beth Hammack from Goldman Sachs.