The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged Wednesday, despite stubborn inflation, although it left the door open to an additional rate hike in November or December.
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage-point in an effort to curb high inflation. Some had called for the Fed to wait after two recent bank failures.
Speaking before the Senate Banking Committee, Powell warned the central bank may have to raise interest rates even more, sending stock markets sharply lower.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter-percentage point as part of its ongoing effort to fight inflation. Price hikes have begun to ease, but the Fed says inflation is not yet tamed.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by another 0.75 percentage points today, as it tries to control runaway prices. The central bank also signaled that additional rate hikes are likely.
All that whipsawing on Wall Street in the first half of the year reflects real nervousness. Investors are worried the Fed may tip the economy into a recession.
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell vowed to bring inflation back down to 2%. Some lawmakers worry the Fed's efforts to control inflation could tip the economy into recession.
Markets jumped after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank was not contemplating bigger rate hikes than the half-a-percentage-point increase it delivered on Wednesday.
The central bank raises its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point in an effort to tamp down inflation. Additional rate hikes are likely in the months to come.
Republicans boycotted a meeting of the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday, delaying a vote on five nominees to the Fed's board. The move was aimed at one nominee: Sarah Bloom Raskin.
The Federal Reserve is opening the door to possible interest rate hikes earlier next year than had been expected, as it wrestles with the highest inflation in nearly four decades.
