(2nd LD) Fed raises key interest rate by quarter point in 1st hike since 2023

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(ATTN: RECASTS lead, 2nd para; ADDS more info, Fed chair's remarks in paras 7-10, 11-13; CHANGES photo) By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point in its first hike since July 2023, while signaling the possibility of another increase later this year amid persistent inflation and high oil prices.

During the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the Fed decided to increase the rate to the 3.75–4.00 percent range in a 12-0 vote, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated calls for the central bank to lower borrowing costs to boost the economy.

The increase left the gap between the key interest rates of South Korea and the U.S. at up to 1 percentage point.

According to the FOMC members' new median economic projection, the federal funds rate is expected to rise to 4.1 percent at the end of this year, up from the June projection of 3.8 percent, indicating the possibility of another increase later this year.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh did not submit a "dot plot" projection as he had pledged not to.

In the run-up to the FOMC meeting, new data added to concerns over price pressures. On Friday, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the "core" consumer price index, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, recorded a 0.3 percent monthly gain last month, 0.1 percentage point higher than forecast.

During a press conference, Warsh pointed out that inflation is "too high" and has remained "for too long," while reiterating the central bank's commitment to achieving price stability.

"The labor side of the Fed's congressional remit is in good shape. Yet for more than five years, inflation has been running above target," he said, referring to the Fed's inflation target of 2 percent.

"So our predominant focus is on the price stability side of our mandate. The plain fact is that inflation is too high and has been for too long," he added.

The Fed chair also underscored that the unanimous vote on this week's rate decision shows the central bank's "resolve to achieve price stability on a timelier basis."

U.S. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington on Sept. 16, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)

This week's hike marked a setback for Trump as the president has pressured the Fed to lower interest rates ahead of the November midterm elections.

In a recent social media post ahead of the rate-setting meeting, Trump threatened to stop trading with countries with which the United States has a trade deficit unless the Fed lowers interest rates.

Asked about Trump's threat and his discussions with the president, the Fed chair said, "I don't have anything for you."

U.S. gross domestic product is expected to grow by 2.3 percent this year, up from 2.2 percent projected in June, and by 2.4 percent next year, up from the previous forecast of 2.3 percent, according to the Fed median projection.

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation is projected to reach 3.7 percent at the end of the year, an increase from the June projection of 3.6 percent, and 2.3 percent at the end of next year, the same as the previous forecast.

PCE is a measure of household consumer spending on goods and services in the U.S.

sshluck@yna.co.kr (END)

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(2nd LD) Fed raises key interest rate by quarter point in 1st hike since 2023

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（注意：重写导语和第二段；在第7-10段和11-13段添加更多信息，包括美联储主席的讲话；更换照片）宋相浩

华盛顿，9月16日（韩联社）——美国联邦储备委员会周三将基准利率上调了0.25个百分点，这是自2023年7月以来的首次加息，同时暗示在持续的通货膨胀和高油价的背景下，今年晚些时候可能再次加息。

在为期两天的联邦公开市场委员会 (FOMC) 会议上，美联储以 12 比 0 的投票结果决定将利率提高到 3.75% 至 4.00% 的区间，尽管美国总统唐纳德·特朗普一再呼吁央行降低借贷成本以刺激经济。

此次加息使韩国和美国的主要利率之间的差距扩大至多1个百分点。

根据联邦公开市场委员会成员最新的经济预测中值，联邦基金利率预计将在今年年底升至 4.1%，高于 6 月份预测的 3.8%，这表明今年晚些时候可能再次加息。

美联储主席凯文·沃什没有像他承诺的那样提交“点阵图”预测。

在联邦公开市场委员会（FOMC）会议召开前夕，新的数据加剧了人们对物价压力的担忧。上周五，美国劳工部劳工统计局公布的数据显示，剔除波动较大的食品和能源价格的“核心”消费者价格指数上月环比上涨0.3%，比预期高出0.1个百分点。

在新闻发布会上，沃什指出通货膨胀“过高”，并且“持续时间过长”，同时重申了央行致力于实现价格稳定的承诺。

“美联储在国会授权范围内负责的劳工问题进展顺利。然而，五年来，通胀率一直高于目标水平，”他说道，这里指的是美联储2%的通胀目标。

“因此，我们工作的重点主要在于维护物价稳定。显而易见的事实是，通货膨胀率过高，而且这种情况已经持续太久了，”他补充道。

美联储主席还强调，本周利率决定的一致投票表明，央行“决心更及时地实现价格稳定”。

这张由美联社发布的照片​​显示，美联储主席凯文·沃什于2026年9月16日在华盛顿联邦储备银行举行的新闻发布会上发表讲话。（韩联社）

本周的加息对特朗普来说是一次挫败，因为这位总统一直在11月中期选举前向美联储施压，要求其降低利率。

在利率制定会议召开前夕，特朗普最近在社交媒体上发帖威胁称，除非美联储降低利率，否则美国将停止与存在贸易逆差的国家进行贸易。

当被问及特朗普的威胁以及他与总统的讨论时，美联储主席表示：“我没有什么可以告诉你的。”

根据美联储的预测中值，美国今年的国内生产总值预计将增长2.3%，高于6月份预测的2.2%；明年预计将增长2.4%，高于此前预测的2.3%。

预计今年年底个人消费支出（PCE）通胀率将达到 3.7%，高于 6 月份预测的 3.6%；预计明年年底将达到 2.3%，与之前的预测相同。

PCE是衡量美国家庭在商品和服务上的消费支出的指标。

sshluck@yna.co.kr（完）

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（第二条）美联储将关键利率上调25个基点，这是自2023年以来的首次加息。