Fed facing blurrier outlook as it meets to weigh rate hike
The Federal Reserve will have to decide whether to extend its year-long streak of rate hikes despite the jitters roiling the financial industry.
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Inflation eases but stays high, putting Fed in tough spot
Even though prices are rising much faster than the Fed wants, some economists expect the central bank to suspend its year-long streak of interest rate hikes when it meets next week.
Fed’s battle plan for inflation shredded by financial turmoil
The worry is the collapse of SVB and Signature Bank are just the start of a longer list of casualties from the Fed’s shift to the highest rates since policymakers began slashing borrowing costs in 2007.
Powell says ‘no decision’ on size of Fed’s next rate hike
Jerome Powell’s more nuanced remarks Wednesday appeared to be an effort to quell any assumption that the Fed has already decided to raise rates more aggressively based on a recent string of data that pointed to strong economic growth and still-high inflation.
Fed’s Powell signals increased rate hikes if economy stays strong
Jerome Powell’s comments reflect a sharp change in the economic outlook since the Fed’s most recent policy meeting in early February.
Powell: Rate hikes could accelerate if economy stays strong
Most economists and Wall Street investors had expected the Fed to carry out another quarter-point increase when it next meets March 21-22. But in recent days, traders have been pricing in a greater likelihood of a half-point increase.
Fed says more rate hikes needed to curb inflation
U.S. central bankers are waging their most aggressive action against high inflation in a generation.
Key U.S. inflation measure surges at fastest rate since June
January’s price data exceeded forecasters’ expectations, confounding hopes that inflation was steadily decelerating and that the Fed could relent on its campaign of rate hikes.
U.S. economy keeps charging ahead, adding pressure on Fed to hike
The U.S. economy showed remarkable resilience at the start of the year, highlighting robust demand that’s keeping inflation elevated and heaping pressure on the Federal Reserve to stomp the brakes even harder.
Fed’s Powell: Strong hiring could force further rate hikes
Jerome Powell’s remarks followed the government’s blockbuster report last week that employers added 517,000 jobs in January, nearly double December’s gain. The unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in 53 years, 3.4%.
U.S. adds surprisingly strong 517,000 jobs despite Fed hikes
January’s job growth far exceeded December’s 260,000 total and extended a streak of powerful hiring gains that raised concerns at the Federal Reserve about inflation pressures.
Fed lifts rate by quarter-point and signals more hikes ahead
The Fed’s latest move, though smaller than its previous hike—and even larger rate increases before that—will likely further raise the costs of many consumer and business loans and the risk of a recession.
Fed, set to impose smaller hike, might hint at fewer increases
With signs of weaker economic growth along with steadily lower inflation readings, reduced consumer spending and even some signs of a slowdown in the job market, the Federal Reserve is now navigating a more treacherous terrain.
Fed’s Mester: Rate hikes have begun to quell U.S. inflation
Loretta Mester, a key Federal Reserve policymaker, said further rate hikes are still needed to decisively crush the worst inflation bout in four decades.
Inflation report could show another month of cooling price hikes
The U.S. inflation report for December being released Thursday morning could provide another welcome sign that the worst bout of spiking prices in four decades is slowly weakening.
Fed minutes: Officials cited strong hiring to justify hikes
Overall, the minutes showed that Federal Reserve officials remained determined to keep rates high to quell inflation and have taken little comfort from inflation’s decline from a peak of 9.1% in June to 7.1% in November.
Fed raises key rate by half-point, signals more hikes to come
Consistent with a sharp slowdown, Fed officials projected that the economy will barely grow next year, expanding just 0.5%, less than half the forecast it had made in September.
Fed set to extend inflation fight with 7th rate hike of 2022
The six rate hikes the Fed has already imposed this year have raised its key short-term rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, its highest level in 15 years.
Diminished U.S. workforce could lead Fed to keep interest rates high
In a recent speech, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pointed to the shortfall of workers and the resulting rise in average pay as the primary remaining driver of the price spikes that continue to grip the economy.
Powell: Fed to keep rates higher for longer to cut inflation
The Federal Reserve will push rates higher than previously expected and keep them there for an extended period, Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday, in remarks likely intended to underscore the Fed’s single-minded focus on combating stubborn inflation.