Fed keeps rates steady as it notes lack of further progress on inflation

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its ground on interest rates, again deciding not to cut as it continues a battle with inflation that has grown more difficult lately.

In a widely expected move, the U.S. central bank kept its benchmark short-term borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5%. The federal funds rate has been at that level since July 2023, when the Fed last hiked and took the range to its highest level in more than two decades.

The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee did vote to ease the pace at which it is reducing bond holdings on the central bank’s mammoth balance sheet, in what could be viewed as an incremental easing of monetary policy.

With its decision to hold the line on rates, the committee in its post-meeting statement noted a “lack of further progress” in getting inflation back down to its 2% target.

 “The Committee does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent,” the statement said, reiterating language it had used following the January and March meetings.