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
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 14, 2023 1:13 PM CDT
The Federal Reserve Opts for a Skip This Time
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during the Thomas Laubach Research Conference at the William McChesney Martin Jr. Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, Friday, May 19, 2023.   (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

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 the benchmark borrowing rate at about 5.1%. The next hike could come as soon as late July, reports the AP. Twelve of the central bank’s 18 policymakers envisioning the key rate ending the year at about 5.6%, according to economic forecasts they issued Wednesday. The Dow sank more than 200 points on the news.

The AP suggests the skip could be the most effective way for Powell to unite a fractious policymaking committee. It sees the 18 committee members as split between those who favor one or two more rate hikes and those who would like to leave the Fed's key rate where it is for at least a few months and see whether inflation further moderates. This group is concerned that hiking too aggressively would heighten the risk of causing a deep recession.

A government report Tuesday on inflation offered some ammunition to both camps, with overall price increases sharply slowing but some measures of underlying inflation remaining high. Consumer prices as a whole rose a modest 4% in May from 12 months earlier, the smallest such rise in more than two years and way below April's 4.9% annual increase. At the same time, the gradual but steady decline in overall inflation suggests that the Fed's rate hikes have had some success. The central bank has jacked up its key rate by a substantial 5 percentage points since March 2022.

(More Federal Reserve stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X