Fed Raises Interest Rates (again!) to Combat Inflation

The Federal Reserve in the US, also known as the Fed, has raised interest rates for the ninth time in a row to fight against high inflation. The Fed’s rate-setting committee voted unanimously to raise their benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point to just under 5%.

Interest rates refer to the amount of money that individuals and businesses have to pay for borrowing. So, if interest rates go up, it means people will have to pay more to borrow money, which can make things like car loans or credit card debt more expensive.

The Fed is trying to fight against inflation, which is when prices of goods and services rise. Inflation can be good in small amounts because it means the economy is growing, but if it gets too high, it can be a problem because people have to pay more for everyday items, like food and transportation. This particularly hurts those on low incomes who are already struggling to make ends meet.

THINK LIKE AN ECONOMIST!

Q1. Define the term interest rate.

Q2. Explain the impact that increasing the interest rate will have on consumers.

Q3. Analyse with the use of a diagram why an increase in the interest rate can help to curb inflationary pressure.

Click here for the source article

TheCuriousEconomist

Recent Posts

France Targets the Wealthy with New Tax Hikes to Tackle Deficit

In a bid to save €60 billion in 2025, the French government has unveiled a…

4 days ago

China’s Exports Surge as Global Demand Remains Strong, But Trade Tensions Loom

China’s exports surged by 12.7% in October, marking the fastest growth in over two years…

1 week ago

VW Boosts Rivian Joint Venture with an extra $5.8 Billion

Volkswagen Group is betting big on its electric future with Rivian. The automaker has raised…

1 week ago

American Brands are Feeling the Squeeze as Sales Drop in China

U.S. consumer giants are finding China a challenging market as slowing consumer spending and strong…

3 weeks ago

Russia Slaps Google with an Unpayable Fine for Blocking State Media

In one of the largest fines ever imposed on a company, a Russian court has…

3 weeks ago

China Slashes Tariffs for Developing Nations

Starting December, China will cut tariffs for goods from 43 of the world’s least developed…

3 weeks ago