Federal Reserve approves largest interest rate hike since 1994
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point in a bold bid at taming the historic inflation plaguing the U.S. economy. It's the central bank's biggest move since 1994, The New York Times notes.
Markets expected the rate increase, which suggests "that Fed officials are serious about crushing price increases even if it comes at a cost to the economy," the Times writes. Chair Jerome Powell has remained optimistic the bank can successfully raise rates to tame inflation without triggering a recession — a maneuver known as a "soft landing."
As a result of the hike, the Fed's federal funds rate will now sit between 1.5 percent and 1.75 percent, "pushing up the cost of borrowing for homes, cars and other loans in order to force a slowdown in the economy," CNN writes. One official voted against the increase.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Economists had prior to this week expected the Fed to embrace a half-point hike, much like the one implemented in May. But a subpar Consumer Price Index report on Friday shifted those predictions toward something much more dramatic.
The bank also shared a mix of good and bad news in its policy statement, CNN notes. The good news? Job growth is up, unemployment is down, and the economy is hot. The bad news? "Inflation remains elevated," and the war in Ukraine is making things worse.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
5 hilariously spirited cartoons about the spirit of Christmas
Cartoons Artists take on excuses, pardons, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Inside the house of Assad
The Explainer Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, ruled Syria for more than half a century but how did one family achieve and maintain power?
By The Week UK Published
-
Sudoku medium: December 22, 2024
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US economy still strong in final preelection report
Speed Read It grew at a solid 2.8% annual rate from July through September
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists reject deal, continue strike
Speed Read The rejection came the same day Boeing reported a $6.2 billion quarterly loss
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published