Federal Reserve

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US Economy's Q2 Provides 'a Perfect Report for the Fed'

GDP grew, but not too much, at 2.8%

(Newser) - The nation's economy accelerated last quarter at a strong 2.8% annual pace, with consumers and businesses helping drive growth despite the pressure of continually high interest rates, reports the AP . Thursday's report from the Commerce Department said the gross domestic product—the economy's total output of...

Fed Predicts Just One Rate Cut This Year
Fed Predicts Just
One Rate Cut This Year
UPDATED

Fed Predicts Just One Rate Cut This Year

Central bank holds key rate steady once again

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve, as widely predicted, held its key interest rate steady once again on Wednesday. The Fed's benchmark rate remains at a 23-year-high of between 5.25% and 5.5%. While nobody was expecting a big surprise with interest rates Wednesday, investors were waiting for an update on...

Inflation Finally Cools— Just in Time for Fed Decision

Markets are happy just hours before central bank decides on rates

(Newser) - Wednesday will be another big day on Wall Street, as investors await a decision by the Federal Reserve on interest rates. Some key factors at play:
  • Inflation eases: Hours before the decision, a new report showed that inflation slowed in May, reports the New York Times . The Consumer Price Index
...

Fed Holds Key Rate Steady for a 6th Time in a Row
Fed Says Key Rate
Will Stay at 23-Year High
UPDATED

Fed Says Key Rate Will Stay at 23-Year High

Powell cites lack of 'further progress' on taming inflation, says rate hike is 'unlikely'

(Newser) - This story has been updated with Powell's remarks. As widely expected, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday for a sixth straight meeting at between 5.25% and 5.5%, the highest level since 2001. The central bank said it won't cut rates until it...

Inflation Is Still Running Too High
Inflation Is Still
Running Too High

Inflation Is Still Running Too High

New report is again above expectations, at 3.5%

(Newser) - A new and highly anticipated inflation report is out, and the numbers show that inflation remains stubbornly above where the Federal Reserve wants it to be. The March report marks three months in a row of higher-than-expected inflation, which could further jeopardize the Fed's plan to cut rates three...

Those 3 Fed Rate Cuts Are Starting to Look Shaky

Friday's strong jobs report has economists adjusting their expectations

(Newser) - Fewer than three weeks ago, the Fed signaled that they still expected to cut their key interest rate three times in 2024 , taking it down three-quarters of a point from its current 5.25% to 5.5% range. Traders are now growing increasingly doubtful that many cuts will come to...

Federal Reserve Keeps Rate As-Is Yet Again

It holds for 5th straight time, with 3 cuts still expected in 2024

(Newser) - After ending their latest meeting, Federal Reserve officials kept their benchmark interest rate unchanged for a fifth straight time at between 5.25% and 5.5%, reports the Wall Street Journal. They signaled that they still expect to cut their key interest rate three times in 2024 despite signs that...

Inflation Did Not Cooperate Last Month

Consumer prices ticked up as Biden administration hopes they ease

(Newser) - Consumer prices in the United States picked up last month, a sign that inflation remains a persistent challenge for the Federal Reserve and for President Biden's reelection campaign, both of which are counting on a steady easing of price pressures this year.
  • Slight increase: Prices rose 0.4% from
...

Jerome Powell Asks Americans to Be Patient

Fed chair indicates central bank is still on track to cut interest rates this year, though

(Newser) - In an appearance on 60 Minutes Sunday, Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve is still on track to cut interest rates three times in 2024. The Fed chair acknowledged that as the central bank has raised its benchmark rate 11 times since 2022 to fight inflation, Americans looking to buy...

Powell on Rate Cuts: 'Path Forward Is Uncertain'

Federal Reserve holds key rate steady

(Newser) - This story has been updated with Powell's remarks. The Federal Reserve, surprising nobody, left its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday at between 5.25% and 5.5%, its highest in 23 years. This was the fourth Fed meeting in a row that resulted in no change to the key...

New CBO Projections Raise Hopes of a 'Soft Landing'

Agency predicts inflation will nearly reach the Fed's target of 2% next year

(Newser) - The Congressional Budget Office said Friday it expects inflation to nearly hit the Federal Reserve's 2% target rate in 2024, as overall growth is expected to slow and unemployment is expected to rise into 2025, according to updated economic projections for the next two years. The office's Current...

In 'Remarkable Shift,' Fed Predicts 3 Rate Cuts in 2024

For now, it's holding benchmark rate steady

(Newser) - Stocks surged on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged for the third meeting in a row—and predicted that there would be three rate cuts next year. The Fed signaled that inflation had come down faster than expected, opening the door to interest rate cuts,...

New Inflation Report Should Keep Fed Happy

Annual rate cools slightly to 3.1%, suggesting Federal Reserve won't raise rates this week

(Newser) - US inflation ticked down again last month, with cheaper gas helping further lighten the weight of consumer price increases in the United States. At the same time, the latest data on consumer inflation showed that prices in some areas—services such as restaurants, used cars, and auto insurance—continued to...

Inflation Report Is Better Than Expected

It cools off in October to 3.2%

(Newser) - The new inflation report is out, and it's likely to make the Federal Reserve pretty happy: It cooled down last month in a sign that the Fed's interest rate hikes are having the desired effect, per the AP .
  • Key numbers: Tuesday's report from the Labor Department showed
...

Big Banks Warn Customers of Deposit Delays

'Manual error' said to cause 'processing issue' at Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, others

(Newser) - Deposits at major banks across the nation were delayed Friday, due to what the Federal Reserve is calling a "processing issue" caused by human error. CNN Business reports that customers at Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, US Bank, and Truist started complaining about the problem Friday morning, with...

Labor Market Cools Off
Labor Market Cools Off

Labor Market Cools Off

Employers add 150K jobs in October, less than expected but still seen as a solid figure

(Newser) - The nation's employers scaled back their hiring in October, adding a modest but still decent 150,000 jobs, a sign that the labor market remains resilient despite economic uncertainties and high interest rates that have made borrowing much costlier for companies and consumers. Last month's job growth, though...

Stocks Rally After Fed Holds Rates Steady
Markets Welcome
Fed Chief's
Latest Remarks
MARKETS

Markets Welcome Fed Chief's Latest Remarks

Powell says other factors are slowing economy, suggesting rate hikes could be over

(Newser) - US stocks rallied after the Federal Reserve indicated it may not need to pump the brakes any harder on Wall Street and the economy.
  • The S&P 500 rose 44.06 points, or 1.1%, to 4,237.86.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 221.71 points, or 0.
...

Fed Holds Key Rate at 22-Year High
Fed Holds Key Rate
at 22-Year High

Fed Holds Key Rate at 22-Year High

Central bank says households, businesses are facing tighter credit conditions

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve held its key interest rate steady at a 22-year high on Wednesday—but the central bank left open the possibility of another rise in the months ahead. The Wall Street Journal reports that while inflation has slowed, officials could raise rates in December or January if it...

Prices Continue to Rise More Than the Fed Wants

But in general, inflation continues its slow downward trend

(Newser) - The latest inflation report shows that prices are still rising faster than the Federal Reserve would like, though inflation generally remains on a slow and uneven downward trajectory:
  • Key numbers: Prices in the US increased 0.4% from August to September, down from a faster pace the previous month,
...

Fed Rate Hikes May Finally Be Over
Fed Rate Hikes May
Finally Be Over

Fed Rate Hikes May Finally Be Over

Officials say market moves are starting to tame inflation by themselves

(Newser) - After raising its benchmark interest rate from near zero to more than 5.25% over 19 months, the Federal Reserve may finally be done with its program of rate hikes. The Fed has been raising short-term borrowing costs to tame inflation, but officials say the raises are now affecting long-term...

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