As expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark fed funds rate range steady at 4.25%-4.50% on Wednesday, the second consecutive pause since three straight rate cuts to end 2024.
The Fed’s quarterly economic projections showed a sharp decline in expectations for economic growth, with the GDP increase in 2025 now seen at just 1.7% versus 2.1% at the December projection. The growth outlook for 2026 and 2027 was trimmed as well.
“Uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased,” the Fed said in an accompanying statement, which is likely a reference to the tariff regime being threatened by President Trump.
Core PCE inflation, though, is now seen at 2.8% this year versus the previous 2.5% projection. The core inflation outlooks for 2026 and 2027 were left at 2.2% and 2.0%, respectively.
The so-called dot plot still sees the fed funds rate ending this year at 3.9%, the same as December’s outlook. The ending fed funds rates for 2026 and 2027 continue to be projected at 3.4% and 3.1%, respectively.
Bitcoin (BTC) is volatile in the minutes immediately following the release, but headed lower at press time to $83,500 against just above $84,000 prior to the news.
Risk assets have been beaten down over the past few weeks as mounting concerns over President Trump’s tariff threats and its perceived impact on inflation and economic growth weighed on investor sentiment. The Fed turning hawkish at the December and January meetings also quashed hopes of looser financial conditions for the near-term, posing headwinds for cryptocurrencies and stocks.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell will speak at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time (18:30 UTC) with traders monitoring the press conference for further clues of policymakers’ outlook on monetary policy.
