Yellen Sees “Strengthened” Case for Higher U.S. Interest Rates
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen tells a meeting of central bankers that price stability and improving employment trends have strengthened the case for raising prime interest rates in the U.S.
#economics
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen tells a meeting of central bankers that price stability and improving employment trends have strengthened the case for raising prime interest rates in the U.S.
Yellen didn’t say when the central bank might act. She notes that the country’s inflation rate remains below the Fed’s 2% target, a condition she attributes primarily to temporary factors.
The Fed last raised rates to between 0.25% and 0.50% in December, marking the first such increase in 7 years. Yellen describes the U.S. economy as “nearing the Federal Reserve’s statutory goals” to justify another upward adjustment
She reiterates that any increase will be gradual. Many economists expect a hike by year-end, and some predict it will come as soon as September.
RELATED CONTENT
-
VW Warns of Higher Costs to Develop EVs
CEO Herbert Diess says the €20 billion ($23 billion) Volkswagen AG has budgeted to electrify its entire vehicle lineup won’t be enough to meet that goal.
-
Inside Ford
On this edition of “Autoline After Hours” Joann Muller, Detroit bureau chief for Forbes, provides insights into what she’s learned about Ford, insights that are amplified on the show by our other panelists, Stephanie Brinley, principal analyst at IHS Markit who specializes in the auto industry, and Todd Lassa, Detroit Bureau Chief for Automobile.
-
Report Forecasts Huge Economic Upside for Self-Driving EVs
Widespread adoption of autonomous electric vehicles could provide $800 billion in annual social and economic benefits in the U.S. by 2050, according to a new report.