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Upbeat Fed keeps borrowing rates on hold
AFP - Thursday, April 29
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US Federal Reserve in Washington, DC. The US Federal Reserve kept its main interest rate at a near zero level on Wednesday, despite its more upbeat assessment that the labor market is beginning to improve.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The US Federal Reserve kept borrowing costs ultra-low Wednesday, despite its verdict that the job market is finally starting to improve.
Pointing to a slightly quickening economic recovery, the Fed said labor and housing markets showed glimmers of improvement and spending had ticked up.
"Economic activity has continued to strengthen and... the labor market is beginning to improve," the Federal Open Market Committee said.
The Fed observed that housing building had edged up, but -- like last month -- was still at a depressed level.
Still its 10-member rate-setting panel vowed to keep historically low interest rates of zero to 0.25 percent for an "extended period."
In a statement -- which is examined forensically by investors -- the central bank warned "the pace of economic recovery is likely to be moderate for a time.
"Growth in household spending has picked up recently but remains constrained by high unemployment, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit," the statement said.
After a brutal economic downturn, one in 10 US workers is still unemployed, causing a drag on everything from consumer spending to house prices.
Nine of the 10 members of the top committee said that interest rates should be kept at "exceptionally low levels" for an "extended period," in order to stimulate the economy.
Describing inflation trends as "subdued," the committee saw few price risks in keeping rates so low.
The head of the Kansas Federal Reserve Bank, Thomas Hoenig, again dissented, warning the expectation of low rates for "an extended period" could be damaging and restrict the Fed's ability to maneuver.
Within the Fed a debate continues to rage over the pace of tightening, and when the Fed should offload over a trillion dollars in troubled mortgage assets.
But according to Brian Bethune, a financial economist with IHS Global Insight, there is little reason for Hoenig's colleagues to heed his concerns: "The Fed's strategy is working," he said.
"The Fed is up several touchdowns at half time with the economy experiencing moderate growth with receding inflation pressures... there is no compelling reason to adjust policy at this time."
Other analysts agreed there were few reasons for rapid change.
Barclays Capital told clients that while there was some good news in the statement, "the Fed tempered its enthusiasm" with observations about employers' reluctance to add to payrolls. It predicted rates would be hiked in September.
Wednesday's rates decision ended a two-day meeting of the committee, which is scheduled to next meet again in June.
"Short term rates aren't going anywhere anytime soon," said Joel Naroff, of Naroff Economic Advisors, "unless the job market improves a lot more quickly than expected."
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