Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:22pm on 18 Mar 2026,Wednesday International
The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged as rising oil prices linked to the Iran war increase economic uncertainty. The key rate remains at 3.5% to 3.75%. Officials said the situation in the Middle East has made the outlook unclear. “The implications… are uncertain,” the Fed said. Higher oil prices have already pushed fuel costs up in the US. This may raise inflation and reduce spending. Policymakers are moving cautiously despite pressure to cut rates. Forecasts now show inflation at 2.7% this year. Most officials still expect at least one rate cut later this year. (PC: BBC)
