Economics
Most Fed Officials Saw June Hike Likely If Economy Warrants
- Policy makers divided over whether data would justify increase
- FOMC will ‘maintain the flexibility’ to raise rates next month
Most Fed Officials Saw June Rate Hike 'Likely'
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Federal Reserve policy makers indicated that a June interest-rate increase was likely if the economy continued to improve, boosting market expectations they will act next month.
“Most participants judged that if incoming data were consistent with economic growth picking up in the second quarter, labor market conditions continuing to strengthen and inflation making progress toward the committee’s 2 percent objective, then it likely would be appropriate for the committee to increase the target range for the federal funds rate in June,” according to minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s April 26-27 meeting released Wednesday in Washington.