内容摘要：The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling within weeks in one challenge

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling within weeks in one challenge

Those comments appeared to please investors, and the S&P 500 stock index rose 1% Wednesday afternoon.Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust, said Powell appeared less alarmed about the impact of tariffs compared to the Fed’s previous meeting in January.

“They’re talking about tariffs in a totally different way,” he said.Powell acknowledged that the Fed initially thought inflation coming out of the pandemic would be temporary, which led it to delay raising rates to combat higher prices. But he added that in this case, it could be a “different situation.”“But...we really can’t know that,” he added, noting that uncertainty is enveloping the economy. “We’re going to have to see how things actually work out.”

Fed policymakers also expect the unemployment rate to tick higher, to 4.4%, by the end of this year, from 4.1% now.The economic projections underscore the

the Fed may find itself in this year: Higher inflation typically would lead the Fed to keep its key rate elevated, or even raise rates. On the other hand, slower growth and higher unemployment would often cause the Fed to cut rates to spur more borrowing and spending and lift the economy.

It is the second meeting in a row that the Fed has kept its interest rate at about 4.3% as the central bank has moved to the sidelines as it evaluates the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on the economy. Economists forecast that tariffs will likely push up inflation, at least temporarily. But other policies, such as deregulation, could lower costs and cool inflation.. And U.S. shoppers currently rely on a lot of goods made abroad.

Fruits and vegetables, your next phone purchase, a pharmacy order, new clothes, or awho uses auto parts made outside of the U.S. could all be impacted.

Cars rest on a carrier at the BNSF Railway vehicle storage facility at the Port of Richmond on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Richmond, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)Cars rest on a carrier at the BNSF Railway vehicle storage facility at the Port of Richmond on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Richmond, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)