Fed Upbeat on U.S. Economy, Holds Interest Rates Steady
The Federal Reserve says the U.S. jobs market continues to improve, economic activity is growing and measures of consumer and business sentiment are improving.
#economics
The Federal Reserve says the U.S. jobs market continues to improve, economic activity is growing and measures of consumer and business sentiment are improving.
But the central bank also voted unanimously to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged from its current range of 0.5%-0.75%.
The Fed reiterates its desire to avoid a sudden upturn in inflation, which it expects to surpass a target of 2% “over the medium term.” The bank made no mention of when it might resume last year’s announced plan to slowly raise rates in multiple steps this year. December’s quarter-point increase was only the second in a decade.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Enterprise Edges into Self-Driving Car Market
U.S. rental car giant Enterprise Holdings Inc. is the latest company to venture into the world of self-driving vehicles.
-
On Urban Transport, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Lamborghini and more
Why electric pods may be the future of urban transport, the amazing Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Lamborghini is a green pioneer, LMC on capacity utilization, an aluminum study gives the nod to. . .aluminum, and why McLaren is working with TUMI.
-
China and U.S. OEMs
When Ford announced its 3rd quarter earning on October 24, the official announcement said, in part, “Company revenue was up 3 percent year over year, with net income and company adjusted EBIT both down year over year, primarily driven by continued challenges in China.” The previous day, perhaps as a preemptive move to answer the question “If things are going poorly in China, what are you doing about it?, Ford announced that it was establishing Ford China as a stand-alone business unit.