Fed Maintains Interest Rates, Balancing Inflation and Unemployment Concerns

The Federal Reserve maintained its interest rates unchanged, balancing concerns over inflation and unemployment. Despite pressure from President Donald Trump to lower interest rates, the central bank stuck with its target range for the federal funds rate at 4.25% to 4.50%, which is 1 percentage point lower than a year ago.

The decision came after a two-day meeting to assess the state of the U.S. economy. In a statement, the Fed said: “The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate and judges that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen.”