Fed Faces Tightrope Walk on Rates | Portland Maine News

The Fed is poised for its first rate hike since 2023, as inflation surged to 3.4% in August and energy prices—spiked by Iran tensions—threaten to prolong the pain. Core inflation, though down slightly to 2.4%, still overshoots the 2% target, fueling bets of a quarter-point increase this week—with markets pricing in nearly 90% probability. But with inflation fueled by oil and diesel, not consumer demand, some economists warn that hiking rates could backfire, risking job losses and economic slowdown while failing to address the real culprit: global energy shocks. The Fed faces a tightrope walk between taming inflation and avoiding a damaging downturn, all while navigating political pushback from the White House. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://fox23maine.com/news/nation-world/federal-reserve-faces-no-easy-choices-with-stubborn-inflation-and-economic-strains-interest-rate-decision-fomc-meeting-energy-shock-bond-market More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0c8d4cda2f5f93a5 Report issues to [email protected].