WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday (Jun 14) but signalled in new economic projections that borrowing costs will likely rise by another half of a percentage point by the end of this year as the US central bank reacted to a stronger-than-expected economy and a slower decline in
In an effort to balance risks to the economy with a still unresolved fight to control inflation,"holding the target range steady at this meeting allows the committee to assess additional information and its implications for monetary policy," the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee said in a unanimous policy statement issued at the end of its latest two-day meeting.
The new projections, adding a hawkish tilt to Wednesday's interest rate decision, show policymakers at the median see the benchmark overnight interest rate rising from the current 5.00%-5.25% range to a 5.50%-5.75% range by the end of the year. Half of the 18 Fed officials penciled in their"dot" at that level, with three seeing the policy rate moving even higher - including one official who sees it rising above 6%.
The higher rate outlook coincides with an improved view of the economy and, consequently, slower progress in returning inflation to the central bank's 2 per cent target. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference at 2.30pm EDT to elaborate on the outcome of the meeting.
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