Above caption. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell Holds A News Conference Following Federal Open Market Committee Meeting WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference on September 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. The US Federal Reserve raised the short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday, the third increase of the year, and signaled two more hikes were coming in 2018 and four in 2019. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
[Washington, DC] In a move that was forecast several weeks ago, this afternoon Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve raised the discount rate to 2.250%. This move occurred to the chagrin of his boss and the person who appointed him Donald Trump, as since June of this year he has been quite vocal that Powell should not raise rates.
The Feds are non-partisan and to effectively operate are independent of political interference. As customary, president’s and those in leadership refrain from making comments about monetary policy. That is most, except Trump who once again has demonstrated his lack of understanding regarding political protocol.
“I’m not thrilled,” Trump said in an interview last month
Powell has stood firm and justified the move to control a positive economy. The discount rate is the cost commercial banks pay for funds. Their impact does not immediately affect consumers but they typically result in higher borrower costs.
You can’t have it both ways
In view of realized and expected labor market conditions and inflation, the Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 2 to 2-1/4 percent. Jerome Powell, Fed Chairman
Ever since the financial meltdown of 2008, systemic changes were adopted to strengthen the economy. In Trump’s case, even though it is very tough for him to admit he inherited an economy that had all the signs of positive growth, as a practical measure it must be properly managed. As the economy moves forward, it is the Fed’s who are in control of monetary policy and to manage interest rates so that inflation of other negative factors are mitigated.
The nine member panel of the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee voted unanimously to support the increase.
Here is Powell’s full report to the media.
Thomas Reports 