The Federal Reserve held interest rates
27 April 2011
The Federal Reserve policy makers left its benchmark interest rate in a range of zero to 0.25 percent and retained a pledge to keep it “exceptionally low” for an “extended period.” The Fed said the economy is recovering at a “moderate pace” and a pickup in inflation is likely to be temporary, as they agreed to finish $600 billion of bond purchases on schedule in June. “The economic recovery is proceeding at a moderate pace and overall conditions in the labor market are improving gradually,” the Federal Open Market Committee said. “Increases in the prices of energy and other commodities have pushed up inflation in recent months,” and the Fed expects “these effects to be transitory.” The Fed left its benchmark interest rate in a range of zero to 0.25 percent and retained a pledge to keep it “exceptionally low” for an “extended period.”