US Federal Reserve signals 3 rate hikes for 2022

December 16, 2021, 5:15 pm

ANKARA -- The US Federal Reserve has signaled Wednesday as many as three interest rate increases for 2022, in an aggressive move to tame record inflation.
 
The projections showed the median projection for the federal funds rate at 0.9 next year, which means the central bank may make three hikes of 25 basis points each.
 
The projection in November, 0.3, indicated only one hike for next year.
 
The bank expects the unemployment rate to average 3.5 percent next year, down from its previous estimate of 3.8 percent in September.
 
It forecasts US gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 4 percent for 2022, also up from the previous expectation of 3.8 percent.
 
Inflation figures were revised upward for next year.
 
The Fed's preferred inflation indicator, personal consumption expenditure (PCE) inflation is anticipated at 2.6 percent, up from 2.2 percent.
 
Similarly, core PCE inflation was revised to 2.7 percent from 2.3 percent.
 
The Fed forecasts both indicators to reach 2.1 percent, toward its long-term 2 percent inflation goal, only in 2024. (Anadolu)

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