interest rate

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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...

Federal Reserve Chooses Larger Interest Rate Cut

Key rate lowered by a half-point

(Newser) - The Federal Reserve, as had been almost universally expected, cut its key interest rate from a 23-year-high on Wednesday, dropping it by half a percentage point in what is likely to be the first in a series of cuts. There had been a lot of speculation over whether the Fed...

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
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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...

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...

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...

Fed Holds Key Rate at 22-Year High
Fed Holds Key Rate
at 22-Year High
Nov 1, 2023 1:19 PM CDT

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...

Fed Hikes Interest Rates to a 22-Year High

Quarter-point increase is 11th in 17 months

(Newser) - The expectation was that the Federal Reserve would lift its key interest rate for the 11th time in 17 months, and that's exactly what came to pass on Wednesday. The quarter-point hike brings the the Fed's short-term rate to roughly 5.3%, the highest level since 2001. As...

The Federal Reserve Gives Us a Skip and a Surprise

Leaves interest rates alone for first time in 15 months, but 2 more hikes could come

(Newser) - After a 10-meeting run of raising interest rates, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday decided to leave rates alone—but in a surprise, indicated two more hikes could come before 2023 is through, reports CNBC . The decision is being viewed as more of a "skip" than a pause and leaves...

Fed Raises Benchmark Interest Rate to a 16-Year High

But the next move could be a cut

(Newser) - This story has been updated with remarks from Fed officials. The Federal Reserve hiked its benchmark interest rate for the 10th time on Wednesday in what analysts predict could be the last rise for now in the central bank's fight against inflation. The Fed signaled that a pause could...

Fed's Powell Speaks, and Markets Aren't Thrilled


Fed Chair Has
More Bad News
Mar 7, 2023 10:45 AM CST

Fed Chair Has More Bad News

Guess what? Higher interest rates likely coming

(Newser) - Jerome Powell opened his mouth on Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee, Wall Street listened and wasn't happy, and probably no one who's possession of a variable interest rate will be, either. "The latest economic data have come in stronger than expected, which suggests that the ultimate...

The Fed Hikes Rates Again, Just Not by as Much
The Fed Hikes Rates
for 8th Time in a Row
UPDATED
Feb 1, 2023 2:34 PM CST

The Fed Hikes Rates for 8th Time in a Row

''We're going to be cautious about declaring victory,' Powell says

(Newser) - This story has been updated with Powell's remarks. The Federal Reserve hiked rates by a quarter point on Wednesday, an expected move in its fight against inflation. It marks the smallest increase since last March, and is down from December's half-point increase. CNBC reports it marks the 8th...

Fed Does the Expected, Raises Rates 0.75 Points
Fed Unleashes a
4th Hefty Rate Hike
UPDATED
Nov 2, 2022 2:08 PM CDT

Fed Unleashes a 4th Hefty Rate Hike

It pumped up its benchmark interest rate Wednesday by three-quarters of a point

(Newser) - This story has been updated with Powell's remarks. The Fed's November move was expected and came to pass: The Fed hiked interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point Wednesday for the fourth time in a row, putting the central bank's benchmark rate between 3.75% and...

Annual 'Core' Inflation Sees Biggest Jump in 40 Years

6.6% over the past 12 months

(Newser) - Inflation in the United States accelerated in September, with the cost of housing and other necessities intensifying pressure on households, wiping out pay gains that many have received, and ensuring that the Federal Reserve will keep raising interest rates aggressively. Consumer prices rose 8.2% in September, compared with a...

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