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WASHINGTON (AP) — Poised to raise interest rates Wednesday for a 10th time, Federal Reserve officials are facing two competing economic trends that could make their future rate decisions more difficult and treacherous. On the one hand, turmoil in the banking sector and political battles over the government’s borrowing limit could weaken the economy if banks restrict lending and financial

It would all seem to spell an economic downturn. Indeed, many consumers would agree that between inflation and tighter credit conditions — and with no more pandemic financial assistance in sight — this is the worst they’ve felt about their finances since Covid-19 swooped in and upended everything. Yet, as the Federal Reserve gets ready to make its latest announcement Wednesday afternoon about

• The Federal Reserve increased interest rates by 0.25% as anticipated • The decision comes amid a turbulent week for the banking sector, the debt-ceiling crisis gaining speed in government and growing recession fears • Stock markets were down, Treasury yields fell and Bitcoin was up at the news It was a better-than-expected Fed meeting result yesterday - and it’s not every day you hear that,

The Federal Reserve Bank on Wednesday raised interest rates a quarter of a point again in an effort to cool inflation. “The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. In support of these goals, the Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 5 to 5-1/4 percent,” the Fed said in an announcement about