The Federal Reserve has held rates, no rate hike

The Federal Reserve chose to adopt a cautious stance on the uncertain U.S. economy Wednesday, deciding to leave interest rates unchanged following its March meeting.

As a result, the federal funds rate remains at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, where it has stayed since December. This marks the second consecutive meeting where the Fed has refrained from adjusting rates, following an active period of rate hikes and cuts over the previous three years.

The Fed also maintained its forecast for two rate cuts in 2025.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m., where investors and economists will closely scrutinize his comments for insights on the future trajectory of the U.S. economy.

The Fed's Dilemma on Interest Rates

Most economists had expected inflation to ease further this year, but the tariffs imposed by President Trump have come sooner and with more impact than anticipated. Trump has already placed a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum, 20% on all shipments from China, and 25% on certain goods from Canada and Mexico.

In the coming month, tariffs set to take effect include a 25% levy on remaining imports from Canada and Mexico, 25% on autos, pharmaceuticals, and computer chips, and broad reciprocal tariffs aimed at matching what other nations charge the U.S.

Goldman Sachs forecasts that these tariffs will raise inflation by half a percentage point, as retailers and manufacturers pass on the higher costs to consumers. They also predict a slowdown in economic growth as households experience reduced purchasing power.

Goldman anticipates that the Fed could raise its 2025 inflation forecast from an annual rate of 2.5% to 2.8%. The central bank may also lower its annual growth estimate from 2.1% to 1.8%.

tastytrade logo+
Get the best broker for options trading and earn Unusual Whales discounted! in cash with an eligible account deposit at tastytrade. Get an Unusual Whales bonus when you deposit $2000. Offer expires 3/31/25. Certain restrictions, terms and conditions apply.
Unusual Whales does not confirm the information's truthfulness or accuracy of the associated references, data, and cannot verify any of the information. Any content on this site or related pages are not intended to provide legal, tax, investment or insurance advice. Unusual Whales Inc. is not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or any state securities regulatory authority. Nothing on Unusual Whales should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by Unusual Whales or any third party. Options, investing, trading is risky, and losses are more expected than profits. Please do own research before investing. Please only subscribe after reading our full terms and understanding options and the market, and the inherent risks of trading. It is highly recommended not to trade on this, or any, information from Unusual Whales. Markets are risky, and you will likely lose some or all of your capital. Please check our terms for full details.
Any content on this site or related pages are not intended to provide legal, tax, investment or insurance advice. Unusual Whales Inc. is not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or any state securities regulatory authority. Nothing on Unusual Whales should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by Unusual Whales or any third party. Certain investment planning tools available on Unusual Whales may provide general investment education based on your input. You are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, investment strategy, security or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances and risk tolerance. You should consult your legal or tax professional regarding your specific situation. See terms for more information.