The monetary committee of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) yesterday began its regular meeting on monetary policy, where the fourth consecutive rise in interest rates is expected in the face of unrelenting inflation.
“The meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) began at 2:30 p.m. as scheduled,” a spokesman for the body told AFP.
Today the meeting will end with a statement at 1:00 p.m. and then a press conference by the president, Jerome Powell, at 1:30 p.m.
The Fed is expected to proceed with a further rate hike, with an eye toward cooling the economy to contain inflation while also trying to avoid a recession, a tricky exercise.
Rates currently remain between 1.50 and 1.75%, after two years of practically zero rates.
The central bank must try to ensure that a voluntary slowdown in economic activity is not too strong, so as not to hit the solid labor market.
The hypothesis of a rise of 75 basis points is preferred by the markets.
In June, an increase of this magnitude was the highest since 1994.
But one of the Fed governors, Christopher Waller, opened the door for a one percentage point hike.
The real estate market registered a strong decline in operations due to the exorbitant prices of houses and rising interest rates.
On the contrary, thousands of job offers do not find candidates and consumption is maintained despite inflated prices.
The growth of the US GDP in the second quarter will be known tomorrow and a slight increase is expected, after a negative first quarter (-1.6% in annual projection).
