interest rates

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How Will Fed's 'Great News for the Middle Class' Affect You?

Unusually hefty half-point rate cut will mean possible relief on car loans, mortgages, credit cards

(Newser) - Borrowing over the past couple of years has been a painful prospect for Americans, as high interest rates meant to curb inflation kept consumer payments steep. Now, after the Federal Reserve made its unusually large half-point cut on Wednesday, leading to a key interest rate of between 4.75% and...

Fed Chair Says Big Rate Cut Is 'Timely'

Some critics think central bank 'jumped the gun' with half-point cut

(Newser) - "We know that it is time to recalibrate our policy to something that's more appropriate given the progress on inflation," Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference Wednesday after the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point. The move...

The Financial Question Driving Wednesday: How Big?

Whether the Fed will go with a 0.25% or 0.5% cut remains to be seen

(Newser) - Wednesday marks a long-awaited day: the Fed's first rate cut since the COVID pandemic began will likely be announced at 2pm ET. But while there is near-certainty a cut is coming to the current key interest rate of 5.3%, the size of the cut remains murkier.
  • CNN notes
...

Jerome Powell Has a Very Big Week
Jerome Powell
Has a Very
Big Week
Sep 17, 2024 9:19 AM CDT

Jerome Powell Has a Very Big Week

Fed is expected to cut rates for the first time in 4 years, but by how much?

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve begins a highly anticipated two-day meeting on Tuesday in which the central bank is expected to cut interest rates for the first time in four years. The big question is whether the cut to its benchmark rate—currently between 5.25% and 5.5%—will be one...

The Fed Just Got a Big High Sign to Cut Interest Rates

US inflation cools for 5th month in a row

(Newser) - The post-pandemic spike in US inflation eased further last month as year-over-year price increases reached a three-year low, clearing the way for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next week. Wednesday's report from the Labor Department showed that consumer prices rose 2.5% in August from a year...

Why the Latest Jobs Report Is Such a Big Deal

It could affect White House race as well as Fed rate cuts

(Newser) - The monthly jobs report comes out Friday morning and since it has the potential to affect both the presidential race and the Federal Reserve's long-anticipated interest rate cut, it's being very closely watched. Economists will be watching to see if the unexpected spike in the unemployment rate in...

Fed Chief: 'The Time Has Come for Policy to Adjust'

Jerome Powell hints a rate cut is coming soon in a closely watched speech

(Newser) - The Fed chief gave a highly anticipated speech on Friday and delivered words Wall Street very much wanted to hear: "The time has come for policy to adjust." Translation: The Federal Reserve plans to cut interest rates at its September meeting, reports the Wall Street Journal . While Powell...

July's Inflation Number Could Pave the Way for a Rate Cut

Prices rose 2.9% year over year, the lowest since March 2021

(Newser) - Year-over-year inflation reached its lowest level in more than three years in July, the latest sign that the worst price spike in four decades is fading and setting up the Federal Reserve for an interest rate cut in September. Wednesday's report from the Labor Department showed that consumer prices...

Trump's Controversial Pitch: I Want Sway Over the Fed

Former president wants more influence over interest rates should he win in November

(Newser) - During his news conference on Thursday, Donald Trump broached a controversial topic—whether presidents should have more direct influence over interest rates. "I feel the president should have at least (a) say in there," Trump said, as quoted by Reuters . "I think that in my case, I...

Financial Contagion Slams World Markets

Japan's index has worst day since 1987 crash, and Dow futures are down 800 points

(Newser) - The stock market ended last week in rough shape thanks to renewed fears of a US recession . Things appear to be getting worse Monday, with Dow futures plunging and world markets in similar shape:
  • In the US: Dow futures dropped more than 800 points, or 2%, reports CNBC . Futures for
...

Wall Street Selloff Intensifies After Jobs Report
Dow Is Plunging
After Jobs Report
Aug 2, 2024 10:50 AM CDT

Dow Is Plunging After Jobs Report

Index down more than 900 points after weak employment data

(Newser) - Friday morning's weak jobs report has led to a selloff on Wall Street: The Dow plunged more than 900 points, or 2.3%, in late-morning trading, while the S&P 500 was off 2.2% and the tech-centric Nasdaq was down 2.4%. In fact, the benchmark S&P...

Federal Reserve Keeps Key Rate Unchanged

But central bank sees 'further progress' toward goal of reducing inflation to 2%

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve has held its key interest rate steady at a 23-year high for a year—and while it decided again on Wednesday to keep it unchanged, it signaled that a cut could be on the way soon. Fed-watchers weren't expecting a rate cut Wednesday, but they were...

New Inflation Numbers Signal an End to the Worst

Fed's favored inflation gauge remains low, signaling that it could cut interest rates in the fall

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve's favored inflation measure remained low last month, bolstering evidence that price pressures are steadily cooling and setting the stage for the Fed to begin cutting interest rates this fall. Prices rose just 0.1% from May to June, the Commerce Department said Friday, up from the...

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
May 1, 2024 2:17 PM CDT

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...

Long-Cautious Jamie Dimon Has Another Economic Warning

He sees the potential for interest rates to hit 8% or more

(Newser) - Some market watchers suspect the Fed won't cut rates at all in 2024. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon sees the potential for things to move sharply in the other direction. In an annual letter to JPMorgan Chase shareholders released Monday, Dimon warned that while he expects the US economy...

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...

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...

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