Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 26, 2025

US interest rates increase at their sharpest rate since 1994 in bid to tackle soaring inflation

US interest rates increase at their sharpest rate since 1994 in bid to tackle soaring inflation

"We’re not trying to induce a recession," the Fed chairman said, while warning of more rate rises to come and projecting a slowing economy in the months ahead.
The US central bank has increased interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point to combat inflation - the sharpest hike in 28 years.

The Federal Reserve signalled more rate rises to come and projected a slowing economy in the months ahead, along with growing unemployment.

This will make it costlier for people, businesses and governments to borrow - affecting credit card and mortgage payments.

The benchmark rate now stands at a range of 1.5% to 1.75%, levels that have not been seen since before the pandemic began.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stressed that the US economy was strong enough to handle the hike, saying: "We're not trying to induce a recession."

He had previously ruled out such a high increase but the unexpected spike in inflation last month - which many had hoped had peaked - forced the bank to change course.

Data published on Friday showed the US Consumer Price Index hit a 40-year high of 8.6% in May, one of the highest in the world.

In a statement, the Federal Open Market Committee cited the impact of the war in Ukraine and lockdown policies in China on soaring consumer prices.

Officials raised their forecasts for interest rates at the end of this year and next, expecting the median benchmark rate to climb to 3.4% by the end of 2022.

In March, that rate had been projected at 1.9%.

It is expected to reach 3.8% by the end of 2023, up from the March forecast of 2.8%.

The revision indicates that Fed officials expect inflation to last longer than they had before.

Mr Powell said he did not expect hikes of three-quarters of a percentage point to be "common".

The tightening of monetary policy was accompanied by a downgrade to the Fed's economic outlook, with the economy now seen slowing to a 1.7% rate of growth this year.

Unemployment is expected to increase to 3.7% by the end of 2022, hitting 4.1% in 2024.

Concerns about growing borrowing costs have prompted a sharp sell-off in bonds and stocks by investors, who anticipated Wednesday's interest rate rise.

The S&P 500 entered bear market territory on Monday, having fallen 20% from its peak in January.

Other countries are also hiking interest rates to combat inflation.

In the UK, the Bank of England is expected to increase its rate by 0.25% to 1.25% on Thursday.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
×