{
  "id": 7845127,
  "title": "US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for first time in three years as inflation risks mount",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-raises-interest-rates-for-first-time-in-three-7845127",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-16T18:01:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2026/09/16/fed-rate-rise-25-basis-points-hike/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years amidst persistently high inflation and surging oil prices due to supply disruptions in the Middle East. The central bank increased interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the target range to 3.75 to 4 percent, marking the end of a nearly nine-month period of inactivity. The UAE Central Bank followed suit, raising rates by the same amount, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar also increased rates shortly after the announcement. Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, domestic spending has remained resilient, according to the Fed. The decision marks a significant shift for the Fed, which had been expected to cut rates earlier in the year. Projections released alongside the decision indicated that officials anticipate another rate hike by the end of the year, with 12 out of 19 members expecting the federal funds rate to fall in the 4 to 4.25 percent range this year. The current economic landscape is further complicated by the ongoing Iran war, which has led to a drop in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and heightened concerns about potential disruptions in the Red Sea. Brent crude, the international benchmark, had reached $109 a barrel following the pipeline attack before settling at around $107 after President Trump's administration pledged to resume operations. West Texas Intermediate, a gauge for US crude, was trading at $104 a barrel. Energy prices were the main driver of inflation, which remained stubborn at 3.4 percent on an annual basis in August. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, rose 2.4 percent year on year. The Fed's decision also coincides with a surge in artificial intelligence spending, ongoing economic growth, and recent tariff hikes by President Trump. Despite the administration's push for lower interest rates, the yield on the benchmark 10-Year US Treasury has climbed above 5 percent, its highest level since 2007, reflecting a global trend of rising borrowing costs. The administration has framed the increase in Treasury yields as evidence of economic growth, while the Treasury Department has announced a significant increase in its buyback of government debt to help ease bond yields.",
  "summary": "The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years on Wednesday, as stubbornly high inflation and rising oil prices caused by supply disruptions in the Middle East ripple across the global economy. Policymakers at the US central bank raised interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the target range to 3.75 to 4 per cent, ending about nine months of stasis. The UAE…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "US Federal Reserve meeting today: When and where to watch Kevin Warsh's Speech? Here's what to expect",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-meeting-today-when-and-where-to-watch-kevin-warshs",
        "published": "2026-09-16T16:25:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for first time in three years as inflation risks mount",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-raises-interest-rates-for-first-time-in-three",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:01:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "Federal Reserve hikes rate to 3.75%-4.00%, the first increase in three years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/federal-reserve-hikes-rate-to-3-75-4-00-the-first-increase-in-three",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:01:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "US Federal Reserve hikes interest rate to 3.75-4% range; first time since 2023",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-hikes-interest-rate-to-3-75-4-range-first-time",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:02:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "US Federal Reserve raises interest rates by 25 basis points, first hike since 2023",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-raises-interest-rates-by-25-basis-points-first",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:02:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "The Federal Reserve just raised interest rates for the first time since 2023. Here's how mortgage rates may respond.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/the-federal-reserve-just-raised-interest-rates-for-the-first-time",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:02:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "US Federal Reserve votes to hike rates for the first time since 2023",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-votes-to-hike-rates-for-the-first-time-since-2023",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:09:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for first time in 3 years, risking Trump’s ire",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-raises-interest-rates-for-first-time-in-3-years",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:15:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Standard IN",
        "title": "US Federal Reserve raises interest rate by 25 bps to 3.75-4% range",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-federal-reserve-raises-interest-rate-by-25-bps-to-3-75-4-range",
        "published": "2026-09-16T18:18:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}