By Howard Schneider WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Strong U.S. economic and inflation data continue to reshape the debate among Federal Reserve policymakers over the pace and extent of interest rate cuts as investors on Friday further downgraded their expectations for a rate reduction at the central bank's December meeting.

Fed watchers see a greater chance the central bank may skip a rate cut at its last meeting of the year in December.

Boston Fed President Susan Collins said it was too soon to say whether the Fed should cut interest rates next month.