By Christopher Rugaber
The Federal Reserve adjusted its inflation target to seek price increases above 2 percent annually, a move that will likely keep interest rates low for years to come.
The Fed on Wednesday also left its benchmark short-term rate unchanged at nearly zero, where it has been since the pandemic intensified in March. Fed officials also indicated in a set of economic projections that they expect the rate to stay there at least through 2023.
The Fed's benchmark interest rate influences borrowing costs for homebuyers, credit card users, and businesses.
The Fed's statement says that because inflation has mostly fallen below its target of 2 percent in recent years, Fed policymakers now "will aim to achieve inflation moderately above 2 percent for some time." It also says it will keep rates low until inflation averages 2 percent over an unspecified period.
The change is significant for the central bank because it means that Fed officials will accept higher inflation to make up for its previous shortfalls below 2 percent. Previously, the Fed has ignored such shortfalls.
Fed chair Jerome Powell first said last month that the Fed would seek inflation above 2 percent over time, rather than just keeping it as a static goal.
The change reflects a growing concern at the Fed that in recessions, inflation often falls far below 2 percent, but it doesn't necessarily reach 2 percent when the economy is expanding. Over time, that means inflation on average falls further from the target. As businesses and consumers come to expect increasingly lower inflation, they act in ways that entrench slower price gains.
The Fed prefers a little inflation because that gives the central bank more room to cut or raise short-term interest rates.
Google has agreed to pay $700 million and make several other concessions to settle allegations that it had been stifling competition against its Android app store — the same issue that went to trial in another case that could result in even bigger changes.
Nicki Minaj just reached a milestone that no other woman in rap has reached.
Apple announced that starting this week, it will stop selling some versions of the Apple watch in the U.S.
Southwest Airlines will pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline canceled thousands of flights and stranded more than 2 million travelers over the holidays.
The House of Representatives recently passed a bill aimed at increasing transparency in healthcare.
If you have a flexible spending account, here's some short information for you so you don't leave money on the table.
With high healthcare costs, bills can quickly add up. In some cases, it is possible to negotiate your medical bills. Barak Richman, law professor at George Washington University, joined Cheddar News to discuss the easiest way to talk to medical debt companies about what's owed.
Millions of people have selected insurance plans for 2024 but sometimes navigating them can be tricky time consuming and expensive. Paula Pant, host of 'Afford Anything' podcast, joined Cheddar News to break down what's needed to know about their insurance plans.
The European Union is investigating Elon Musk's X over alleged illicit content and disinformation on its platform. Cheddar News breaks it all down and discusses what it could mean for users.
Adobe and Figma called off their $20 million merger, Southwest Airlines gets fined, Nippon Steel is buying U.S. Steel and oil and gas prices surge after a pause in shipments.
