The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday decided¹ to raise benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points, the first and only rate hike in 2016.

 

美联储周三决定将基准利率提高25个基准点，这是2016年首次也是唯一一次利率上调。

 

"In view of realized and expected labor² market conditions and inflation, the (Federal Open Market) Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 1/2 to 3/4 percent," said the Fed in a statement after concluding a two-day policy meeting.

 

The moderate economic expansion, continued strengthening of labor market and the improvement in inflation condition supported the central bank to raise interest rate after nearly a one-year pause, according to the statement.

 

The U.S. economy has picked up expansion pace since the middle of this year, with support of strong consumer spending; the job market continued strengthening and the unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent in November, the lowest level since 2007; and the inflation has increased since earlier this year, with core inflation rising to 1.75 percent.

 

In December last year, the U.S. central bank increased the interest rate for the first time in nearly a decade.

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