How much the central bank will lift interest rates?
- Thread starter KeyWest
- Start date
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The Federal Reserve moved a step closer toward
raising interest rates for the first time since 2000, saying strong economic
and jobs growth has defused the deflationary threat that preoccupied the
central bank for a year.
The Fed's monetary-policy committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to keep the
key federal funds rate at 1%, where it has been for the last 10 months. It
indicated the risk of deflation has passed, saying prices are now just as
likely to rise as fall. Still, the panel said it is likely to be "measured"
about raising interest rates because inflation still is low.
"Output is continuing to expand at a solid rate and hiring appears to have
picked up," the Federal Open Market Committee said. But "at this juncture,
with inflation low and resource use slack, the committee believes that policy
accommodation can be removed at a pace that is likely to be measured." The
phrase "likely to be measured" replaced an earlier formulation in which the
committee said it "can be patient" about raising rates.
"Although incoming inflation data have moved somewhat higher, long-term
inflation expectations appear to have remained well contained," the committee
said.
raising interest rates for the first time since 2000, saying strong economic
and jobs growth has defused the deflationary threat that preoccupied the
central bank for a year.
The Fed's monetary-policy committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to keep the
key federal funds rate at 1%, where it has been for the last 10 months. It
indicated the risk of deflation has passed, saying prices are now just as
likely to rise as fall. Still, the panel said it is likely to be "measured"
about raising interest rates because inflation still is low.
"Output is continuing to expand at a solid rate and hiring appears to have
picked up," the Federal Open Market Committee said. But "at this juncture,
with inflation low and resource use slack, the committee believes that policy
accommodation can be removed at a pace that is likely to be measured." The
phrase "likely to be measured" replaced an earlier formulation in which the
committee said it "can be patient" about raising rates.
"Although incoming inflation data have moved somewhat higher, long-term
inflation expectations appear to have remained well contained," the committee
said.