Federal Reserve officials at their March meeting still expected to lower interest rates this year, even with a high level of uncertainty from the Iran war and tariffs, according to minutes released Wednesday.
Most of the participants said the war could result in the need for easier monetary policy if rising gas prices hit the labor market and consumer wallets.
Policymakers said they would need to ...
The Federal Reserve's March meeting minutes reveal a central bank grappling with geopolitical and economic crosscurrents. The strongest version of this narrative acknowledges the Fed's cautious optimism—balancing inflation concerns with labor market vulnerabilities while monitoring the fallout from the Iran war. The Fed deserves credit for transparency in outlining its contingency plans, including the possibility of rate cuts if inflation cools or hikes if geopolitical tensions sustain price pre...