Fed unlikely to cut rates despite pressure

Considering nothing is likely to happen when it comes to major policy decisions, this week’s Federal Reserve meeting is packed with intrigue. When the Federal Open Market Committee releases its interest rate decision Wednesday afternoon, the narrative is almost certain to look a lot like the June meeting, with little changed in the statement and officials ...

President Trump is looming large over the Federal Reserve's policy meeting, even if the central bank does what the market expects and keeps interest rates on hold on Wednesday. Trump and other top White House officials have been hammering Fed Chair Jerome Powell for months over his wait-and-see rate stance and his insistence that more time is needed to ...

Although swings in net exports continue to affect the data, recent indicators suggest that growth of economic activity moderated in the first half of the year. The unemployment rate remains low, and labor market conditions remain solid. Inflation remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate. In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 percent. In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. The Committee will continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage‑backed securities. The Committee is strongly committed to supporting maximum employment and returning inflation to its 2 percent objective. In assessing the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook. The Committee would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee's goals. The Committee's assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectati FOMC STATEMENT COMPARE: pic.twitter.com/3wayLXzIBa FOMC: VOTED 9-2 FOR FED FUNDS RATE ACTION Fed Governors Waller and Bowman dissented, preferring to lower the funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point. THE FEDERAL RESERVE KEPT ITS BENCHMARK INTEREST RATE STEADY AT 4.25–4.50%, NOTING ELEVATED ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, SLOWING GROWTH IN H1 2025, AND PERSISTENT INFLATION. || DESPITE A STRONG LABOR MARKET AND LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, FED GOVERNORS WALLER AND BOWMAN DISSENTED, FAVORING A 25BPS…