<\/p>\n
Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged and were split over whether they expect to raise rates this year.<\/p>\n
Policymakers\u2019 new projections indicated nine officials foresee at least one quarter-point hike this year, with six anticipating at least two. Another nine expected no move or a cut.<\/p>\n
Read:<\/p>\n
Notably, only 18 officials out of 19 entered their projections for rates at the end of 2026. The absence of an entry suggests new Chair Kevin Warsh, who has been critical of so-called forward guidance, declined to submit a rate forecast.<\/p>\n
In its first gathering under Warsh\u2019s leadership, the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to hold its benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%.<\/p>\n
Treasuries sold off, the dollar rallied and stocks fell after the decision was announced.<\/p>\n
\nThe decision marked the fourth straight time officials held rates in place as they continue to shift their concerns from the labour market to inflation, driven in part by the impact of the Iran war on energy prices.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In their post-meeting statement, officials said inflation remained elevated and vowed to deliver price stability. They continued to characterise growth as \u201csolid\u201d. Officials also described productivity growth and capital investment as strong.<\/p>\n
Listen:\u00a0Powell\u2019s Fed legacy as he steps down<\/p>\n
The statement was also shorter than recent post-meeting releases. Its brevity could be a sign of things to come under Warsh, who has promised to shake up the central bank\u2019s communication strategy.<\/p>\n
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\nWarsh arrived at the Fed last month promising \u201cregime change\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In the opening remarks of his first press conference, he announced the creation of multiple task forces aimed at examining five areas with an eye toward proposing changes to the way the Fed operates.<\/p>\n
The task forces will address communications, the balance sheet, the Fed\u2019s \u201cuse and reliance on existing data sources\u201d, productivity and jobs and the central bank\u2019s \u201cinflation frameworks\u201d.<\/p>\n
Responding to questions, Warsh ruled out re-examining the Fed\u2019s 2% inflation target. \u201cI see no reason, until we have reestablished our commitment and ability to deliver on the 2% inflation objective, to revisit that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Inflation forecasts jump<\/strong><\/p>\n
Policymakers made several adjustments to the economic forecasts they issued in March, soon after the Middle East conflict began.<\/p>\n
Policymakers\u2019 median forecast for inflation this year jumped to 3.6% from 2.7%. Their forecast for 2026 core inflation \u2013 which excludes volatile food and energy categories \u2013 increased, as well, to 3.3% from 2.7%.<\/p>\n
Read:\u00a0US inflation accelerates, though core gauge comes in softer<\/p>\n
Officials lowered their median outlook for growth in 2026 to 2.2%, from the 2.4% they forecast in March. Their median unemployment forecast for the end of 2026 fell to 4.3% from 4.4%.<\/p>\n
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Shifting backdrop<\/strong><\/p>\n
The economic backdrop for policymakers has shifted dramatically from the beginning of the year when fragility in the labour market and a more benign outlook for inflation made additional rate cuts in 2026 plausible to many Fed officials.<\/p>\n
Since then, strong jobs data has suggested the labour market is pulling clear of a long period of weak hiring growth. Job creation topped all forecasts in May and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%.<\/p>\n
At the same time, an April report on prices showed the Fed\u2019s preferred measure of inflation hit 3.8% from a year earlier, the largest increase since 2023. Separate measures of consumer and producer prices also rose in May at the fastest pace in more than three years.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s driven not only by the Iran war but also by price pressures spilling over from the surge of investment by companies building out the infrastructure for artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n
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US, Iran prepare for deal signing<\/div>\nTraders cut SA rate-hike bets on Iran peace deal<\/div>\nECB officials say peace in Iran isn\u2019t enough to fix energy shock<\/div>\nStill, news of a preliminary\u00a0peace deal\u00a0between the US and Iran has sent oil prices tumbling. If the agreement holds, that could take substantial pressure off of energy costs and inflation.<\/p>\n
At the start of the year investors had been betting on a resumption of Fed rate cuts this year. But heading into the June meeting, pricing in federal funds futures pointed to a quarter percentage point increase in rates by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a02026\u00a0Bloomberg<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
#Fed #holds #rates #steady<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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