Research Brief: Federal Reserve – March 2018

Fed raises benchmark interest rate, plots path for additional increases.  The Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate by 25 basis points, lifting the overnight lending rate to 1.5 percent.  While the Fed noted that the inflation outlook had moderated in recent months, an upgraded economic forecast factoring in recent tax cuts and a rollback in regulation strengthened growth projections for the next two years.  As a result, the Fed has guided toward two additional rate hikes this year, while setting the stage for as many as four increases in 2019.

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