What's Behind the Fed's Rate Hike?

Liz Ann Sonders and Collin Martin analyze the Federal Reserve’s latest rate hike. They unpack why the Fed acted now, arguing that inflation remains too persistent despite a resilient economy, strong labor market, and robust consumer spending. They discuss the Fed's updated projections, which suggest inflation may not return to its 2% target until 2028 and imply the possibility of additional rate hikes ahead.The conversation then turns to market implications. Stocks sold off following the announcement as Treasury yields climbed above 5%, reflecting expectations that monetary policy may remain tighter for longer. Liz Ann highlights that while some inflation pressures are supply-driven, there are also demand-side forces at work, including AI-related capital spending and continued economic strength. Collin and Liz Ann emphasize that higher rates today could ultimately help reduce inflation and bring down long-term borrowing costs, even if the path is bumpy for markets in the near term.Finally, Collin and Liz Ann look ahead to next week’s upcoming macroeconomic indicators and key data releases. On Investing is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the show, visit schwab.com/OnInvesting.If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.Important DisclosuresThis material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The securities, investment products and investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions. Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, municipal securities including state specific municipal securities, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income investments are subject to various other risks including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors.All names and market data shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.Forecasts contained herein are for illustrative purposes only, may be based upon proprietary research and are developed through analysis of historical public data.The policy analysis provided by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please see Schwab.com/IndexDefinitionsA hyperscaler is a large-scale cloud service provider that offers vast computing, storage, and networking resources through a distributed infrastructure of interconnected servers and software.(0926-8ZSE) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.