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Federal Reserve officials held interest rates steady for a third straight meeting and emphasized they see a growing risk of both higher inflation and rising unemployment.

President Donald Trump allayed fears that he plans to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell and signaled he would be "very nice" to China in trade talks.

President Donald Trump warned the U.S. economy may slow if the Federal Reserve does not move to immediately reduce interest rates, in his latest broadside against Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

The public pushback on interest rates comes as the Trump White House tries to make its case for stiffer tariffs amid a mixed economic picture in the U.S.

The Federal Open Market Committee voted to keep the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 4.25%-4.5%, and said it would further slow the pace at which it is reducing its balance sheet.

Inflation accelerated last month as the cost of groceries, gas, and used cars rose, a trend that will likely underscore the Federal Reserve’s resolve to delay any further interest rate cuts.

“We know that reducing policy restraint too fast or too much could hinder progress on inflation,” Powell said in prepared testimony for the Senate Banking Committee.

Expected inflation five years ahead rose to 3% last month, the highest since May 2024, according to results of the New York Fed’s Survey of Consumer Expectations published Feb. 10.

In a statement, officials repeated that inflation remains “somewhat elevated” but removed a reference to it having made progress toward their 2% goal.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Dec. 18 by a quarter-point — its third cut this year — but also signaled that it expects to reduce rates more slowly next year.