The FED left interest rates unchanged, as expected.
Following this unsurprising development, Jerome Powell's meeting at 21:30 UTC+3 Türkiye time will be closely followed.
The Fed’s decision comes amid growing concerns about Trump’s trade policies, mass layoffs of federal employees and broader economic changes. A variety of economic indicators show consumer spending and job growth slowing. After an initial surge of optimism following Trump’s election, the economic expansion now appears to be moderating. Federal workforce reductions led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have added further pressure, raising concerns about local economies and unemployment benefits for displaced workers.
The economic outlook has also fueled volatility in financial markets. Last week, the S&P 500 entered correction territory, shedding 10% from its recent peak, its first decline in three years. Investors remain uncertain about the long-term impact of Trump’s policies, further complicating the Fed’s decision-making process.
“They are facing the most difficult problem a central banker has ever faced, because this shock is pushing up import prices and reducing employment in terms of input costs,” former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers wrote in an article in X, describing the economic situation as a “stagflationary shock,” a view echoed by other financial experts.
*This is not investment advice.
