London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

US interest rates see third 0.75 percentage point rise to tackle inflation

US interest rates see third 0.75 percentage point rise to tackle inflation

America continues its aggressive monetary tightening campaign to tackle inflation driving cost of living concerns. Economic hardship is likely to result but the central bank hopes that acting now will ensure a softer landing rather than a protracted recession.

The US central bank has imposed its third major interest rate rise in a row.

The Federal Reserve has once again hiked rates by 0.75 percentage points in an effort to curb soaring inflation.

The widely-expected rise will mean more expensive borrowing for the likes of mortgage holders and those paying credit card debt.

American interest rates now stand at 3% to 3.25%, up from 2.25% to 2.5% since the last increase in late July.

It's just one rise in the central bank's plan to raise interest rates to 4.4% by the end of 2022 and settle on 4.6% in 2023, it announced on Thursday. Such a rate would be the highest since 2007.

The latest tough stance has been taken in an effort to limit spiralling inflation, which stood at more than 9% in the US, the fastest increase in 40 years. The rises are being made as part of an overall plan to reduce inflation to 2%.

"No one knows if this process will lead to a recession or if so how significant that recession would be", chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, said.

As well as the interest rate announcement, the US central bank, known as the Fed, outlined economic projections.

Gross domestic product (GDP), the measure of the value created through producing goods and services, was projected by Mr Powell to be 0.2% this year and 1.2% next year, down on previous projections.

While US unemployment is near a 50-year low, as demand for workers outpaces the number of people taking up new jobs, the Fed expected it to rise to 4.4% next year in what Mr Powell described as a "softening of labour market conditions". That demand for workers will have to reduce, he said.

The US housing market will also have to go through a "correction", Mr Powell said, to get supply and demand into balance and return housing price growth to a more normal pace. Median home prices have soared by nearly 36% since the beginning of the pandemic, despite the cost of mortgages going up and home sales declining.

The move is likely to bring economic pain, but the Fed is betting that it will be shorter and less intense if it takes tougher action now. Job losses are likely to result as loan repayments become more costly for businesses and consumers have less disposable cash.

Achieving that desired soft landing is "very challenging", Mr Powell said.

The rate had been 0% at the beginning of this year but the Fed has progressively increased the figure across five announcements. The low rate was reached during the pandemic when the Fed wanted borrowing to be cheap for businesses and consumers to remain financially afloat.

Not since the early 1980s has the Fed embarked on such an aggressive monetary tightening campaign.

The Federal Reserve


Prior to Wednesday's increase, the Fed had already upped rates in June and July by what were, at the time, rises not seen since 1994.

The Fed is just one of many central banks targeting interest rates as inflationary pressures drive the cost of living crises across economies.

On Thursday, the Bank of England is anticipated to also raise its base rate of interest by 0.75% to 2.5%.

It's a busy week for central bankers as the People's Bank of China regulator decided to leave interest rates unchanged and the Bank of Japan is predicted to maintain its negative interest rates.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×