US Federal Reserve raises key interest rate by 0.25%
March 26, 2018The raise in key interest rate by the Federal Reserve has finally arrived with the authority hiking the interest rate by 0.25 per cent.
The interest rate hike came with a forecast that such hikes could happen in 2018 for at least two more times. This indicates growing confidence that U.S. tax cuts and government spending will boost the economy and inflation and lead to more aggressive future tightening.
The rate hike was announced after the first policy meeting under new Fed chief Jerome Powell. The Federal Reserve indicated that inflation should finally move higher after years below its 2 per cent target and that the economy had recently gained momentum.
The Fed also raised the estimated longer-term “neutral” rate, the level at which monetary policy neither boosts nor slows the economy, a touch, in a sign the current gradual rate hike cycle could go on longer than previously thought.
In a statement at the end of the two-day meeting the Federal Reserve said that the economic outlook has strengthened in recent months. The benchmark lending rate has been lifted by a quarter of a percentage point to a range of 1.50 per cent to 1.75 per cent.
Inflation “is expected to move up in coming months and stabilize” around the Fed’s target, it said.
The key interest hike was totally expect with polling indicating that economists expected increase in borrowing costs.
The move was the latest step away from years of stimulating the world’s largest economy in the wake of the 2007-2009 financial crisis and recession. The Fed tightened policy three times last year.
The combination of $1.8 trillion in expected fiscal stimulus and recent hints of price and wage pressures had prompted some Fed officials to speculate more Americans could be drawn into an already tight labor market and that inflation could rise to the target, or even well above if the economy got too hot.
Policymakers were largely split on Wednesday as to whether a total of three or four rate hikes would be needed this year.
They predicted rates would rise three times next year and two times in 2020, a further indication of confidence in the economy.
They projected U.S. economic growth of 2.7% in 2018, an increase from the 2.5% forecast in December, and also marked up growth for next year. The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation was expected to end 2018 at 1.9%, unchanged from the previous forecast, but it is seen rising a bit above the Fed’s target next year.
The U.S. unemployment rate by the end of 2018 is expected to edge down to 3.8%, indicating the Fed sees more room for the labor market to run. Fed officials predicted the rate also would settle even lower at 4.5% in the longer run.
U.S. joblessness stood at 4.1% last month.
While recent home sales and retail spending data have been on the weak side, the overall economic picture has brightened after growth accelerated to 2.3% last year.
Before the meeting, analysts were split over whether the Fed, which is wary of an early misstep under its new leadership, would raise policy tightening expectations until more price pressures are clearly evident. There are also looming outside risks to the economy such as a possible global trade war.
