Fed Raises Interest Rates for First Time in Three Years as Diesel, Gas Prices Surge

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee voted unanimously to raise the benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter-point on Wednesday, moving the rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%. This marked the first rate increase since 2023, representing a shift from expectations just one week prior when market participants assigned only a 60% probability to such a hike, based on the CME’s FedWatch tool.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh attributed the decision primarily to elevated inflation levels that