The Fed raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.75 percentage points, the largest increase since 1994

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday launched its largest widening yet against inflation, raising benchmark interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point in a move equaling Biggest rise since 1994.

After weeks of speculation, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) rate-setting raised the benchmark funds rate to the 1.5%-1.75% range, the highest level since then. covid pandemic It started in March 2020.

Stocks were volatile after the decision but turned around Top as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at his post-meeting press conference.

“Obviously, a 75 basis point increase is an extraordinarily large increase, and I don’t expect moves of this magnitude to be common,” Powell said. But he added that he expected the July meeting to see an increase of 50 or 75 basis points. He said decisions would be made “meeting by meeting” and the Fed would continue to “communicate our intentions as clearly as possible.”

“We want to see progress,” Powell said. “Inflation cannot go down until it stabilizes.” “If we don’t see progress… it may cause us to react. Soon we will see some progress.”

Members of the Federal Open Market Committee have indicated a much stronger path for price increases in the future to stem inflation moving at the fastest pace going back to December 1981, according to one commonly cited measure.

The Fed’s benchmark interest rate will end the year at 3.4%, according to the midpoint of the target range of individual members’ expectations. That compares to an upward revision of 1.5 percentage points from the March estimate. The committee then sees the rate rising to 3.8% in 2023, a full percentage point higher than forecast in March.

Committee statement Paint a largely optimistic picture of the economy even with high inflation.

“General economic activity appears to have rebounded after declining in the first quarter,” the statement said. “Job gains have been solid in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains high, reflecting supply and demand imbalances linked to the pandemic, higher energy prices, and broader price pressures.”

In fact, estimates expressed through the committee’s Summary of Economic Outlook are for inflation to fall sharply in 2023, to 2.6% headline and 2.7% core, and expectations are little changed from March.

In the longer term, the committee’s outlook for policy largely matches market expectations that see a series of increases ahead that will raise the money rate to about 3.8%, its highest level since late 2007.

The statement was approved by all FOMC members except for Kansas City Bank President Esther George, who favored a half-point lower increase.

Banks use the rate as a benchmark for what they charge each other for short-term borrowing. However, it feeds directly through many consumer debt products, such as adjustable rate mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans.

The money rate can also drive up the rates for savings accounts and CDs, although feeding through this generally takes longer.

Fed move comes with Inflation is running at the fastest pace In more than 40 years. Central bank officials use the interest rate to try to slow the economy – in this case to curb demand so that supply can catch up.

However, the post-meeting statement removed a long-used phrase that the FOMC “expects inflation to return to its 2 percent target and the labor market to remain strong.” The statement only indicated that the Fed was “strongly committed” to this goal.

Policy tightening occurs as economic growth is already slowing while prices are still rising, a condition known as stagflation.

First-quarter growth slid at a 1.5% annualized pace, and an updated estimate Wednesday from the Atlanta Federal Reserve, through its GDP tracker Now, put the second quarter flat. Two consecutive quarters of negative growth is a widely used rule of thumb for defining a recession.

Fed officials engaged in a public fit of tension ahead of Wednesday’s decision.

For weeks, policymakers have been insisting that a half-point increase – or 50 basis points – could help stem inflation. In recent days, though, CNBC and other media outlets have reported that conditions are ripe for the Federal Reserve to move past this. The changed approach came despite Powell’s insistence in May not to consider hiking the 75 basis points.

However, a recent string of alarming signals has led to more aggressive action.

Inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index rose 8.6% y/y in May. The University of Michigan consumer opinion poll hit an all-time low that included sharply higher inflation expectations. Also, Wednesday’s retail sales figures confirmed the critical consumer is weakening, with sales down 0.3% for the month when inflation rose 1%.

The job market has been a strong point for the economy, although May’s gain was the lowest since April 2021. Average hourly earnings were rising in nominal terms, but when adjusted for inflation, it’s down 3% over the past year.

The committee’s forecast released on Wednesday points to a rise in the unemployment rate, currently at 3.6%, to 4.1% by 2024.

All of these factors have combined to complicate Powell’s hopes for a “soft or calm” landing, which he expressed in May. Price tightening cycles in the past have often led to recessions.

Correction: Core PCE inflation registered 4.9% in April. An earlier version missed the month.