Feds hold rates steady amid turmoil

Powell says next step is 'not at all clear'

- COLBY SMITH

The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged Wednesday for a third meeting in a row, as officials pointed to heightened uncertainty about how significantly President Donald Trump's tariffs will raise inflation and slow growth.

The unanimous decision to stand pat will keep interest rates at 4.25% to 4.5%, where they have been since December after a series of cuts in the second half of 2024.

The Fed gathered at a highly volatile moment for the economy and the global financial system amid an onslaught of policy changes from Trump just months into his second term in the White House.

In a statement Wednesday, the Fed acknowledged that the labour market was still "solid." But policymakers also noted that "uncertainty about the economic outlook has increased further" and "risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen."

At a news conference after the decision, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said he could not yet say "which way this will shake out" in terms of whether to be more worried about inflation or growth.

Mr Powell did not deviate much from an earlier stance that the Fed is not in a "hurry" to lower interest rates. He stressed that the Fed was "well positioned" to respond in a "timely way to potential economic developments" and that the costs of waiting were still "low."

"It's really not at all clear what it is we should do," he said.

His comments dampened expectations that the Fed will lower rates in June.

'MORE DATA NEEDED'