Interest rates

23 June 2008 -- Top officials of the U.S. central bank are expected to hold interest rates steady when they gather at a key policymaking meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington.

The U.S. Federal Reserve has cut interest rates several times recently to bolster economic growth that has been hurt by the faltering housing market, tight credit, and other problems.

But economists say cutting rates too low can spark inflation, which is a growing threat as oil prices soar to ever higher record levels.

Experts interviewed by news organizations, like Bloomberg and Reuters, say the Fed will probably keep interest rates unchanged for a while, but raise them later this year.

Source: VOA News

Wall Street bailout, interest rate cut only pieces of the puzzle

March 18, 2008 -- Newark, NJ – U. S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, issued the following statement in the wake of the Federal Reserve interest rate cut and the recent purchase of Bear Stearns Co.:    » read more »

30 January 2008 -- For the second time in just over a week, the U.S. Central Bank has cut interest rates to try to spur a slowing economy.

Last week, the Federal Reserve aggressively cut a key short-term interest rate by 0.75 percent in what was seen as an emergency move to reassure global financial markets that plunged amid worries of a possible U.S. recession. Now, the Fed has acted again, slashing the so-called "federal funds rate" - which banks charge each other on overnight loans - by another half percent to three percent.    » read more »

January 22, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released the following statement by John McCain on the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts:    » read more »

January 22, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after the Federal Reserve Board issued an emergency rate cut of a key interest rate by 3/4 of a percentage point:

“Today’s emergency rate cut by the Federal Reserve Board indicates a commitment across all levels of government to revitalize the economy, restore confidence in the markets, and help Americans struggling with soaring bills for gasoline, groceries, housing and home heating.    » read more »

23 January 2008 -- Asian stocks recouped some of their steep losses of the past two days after market confidence received a shot in the arm from the U.S. Federal Reserve. But stock analysts say the markets may remain volatile despite Tuesday's U.S. interest-rate cut.

Most Asian indexes jumped within minutes of opening Wednesday as investors heaved a sigh of relief after two days of panic selling.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point - its biggest cut in more than two decades.    » read more »

Statement from Governor Pawlenty in reaction to the Federal Reserve’s emergency decision to cut its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point

January 22, 2008 -- Saint Paul – The following is a statement from Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty in reaction to the Federal Reserve’s emergency decision to cut its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.    » read more »