The Federal Reserve has decided¹ to keep US interest rates on hold at between 0% and 0.25%, as had been widely expected.

美联储计划将利率保持在众望所归的0%至0.25%之间。

Low inflation gives the Fed the chance to keep rates low

Despite continuing signs that the US economy is recovering, the central bank reiterated重申，反复地做 that rates would stay at the low level for an "extended period".

The Fed's hand was strengthened by official data showing earlier on Wednesday that US inflation通货膨胀 remains³ under control.

Inflation rose by just 0.4% in November, as had also been predicted.

With inflation continuing to be low, the Fed is not under pressure to increase interest rates as a means to tackle any inflationary pressure.

Instead, it can keep the cost of borrowing low to help the US economy continue to rebound⁴回弹.

Separate official US figures on Wednesday indicated that the economic recovery remains on track.

The Commerce Department said the current account deficit收支往来账户赤字 rose 10.3% to $108bn (£66bn) between July and September, as demand for overseas goods among US consumers increased.

Meanwhile, new home construction for November grew by 8.9% to an annual rate of 574,000 units.

The most recent official figures showed that the US economy grew at an annual pace of 2.8% during the third quarter, down from an initial estimate of a 3.5% expansion.