After a period of aggressive rate hikes that began in March 2022, the Fed once again left their benchmark Federal Funds Rate unchanged at a range of 5.25% to 5.5%. This decision was unanimous and marked the fourth straight meeting where the Fed paused additional hikes.
The Fed Funds Rate is the interest rate for overnight borrowing for banks and it is not the same as mortgage rates. The Fed’s eleven hikes between March 2022 and July 2023 were made to slow the economy and curb the runaway inflation seen over the last few years.
What’s the bottom line? The Fed said they believe they have reached their peak Fed Funds Rate for this cycle. However, members don’t expect to begin cutting rates until they have “gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent.” Note that the Fed’s favored measure, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures, declined to 2.9% annually as of the latest report for December.
During his press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged that inflation data has been favorable over the last six months. However, he does not think the Fed will be ready to start cutting rates at their next meeting on March 20, explaining that members want to see “more good data.”