{
  "id": 7858748,
  "title": "Federal Reserve Raises Rates to 4% in Its First Increase Since 2023",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/federal-reserve-raises-rates-to-4-in-its-first-increase-since-2023",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-16T19:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/federal-reserve-raises-rates-first-hike-since-2023-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Wednesday afternoon in Washington, the Federal Reserve took its first interest rate increase since July 2023, raising the target range for the federal funds rate to between 3.75 and 4 percent. The unanimous decision marked three years of falling American interest rates ending at two o'clock in Washington. The Federal Reserve's decision aimed to support a timelier return to its 2 percent inflation goal, as inflation remained elevated despite a solid pace of economic growth and relatively stable unemployment. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh emphasized that inflation had been too high for too long, rejecting the idea that policy had been excessively tight. The median projection for the end of the year now sits at 4.1 percent, suggesting one further increase before December 2026. The shift in expectations implies a long hold on higher rates rather than a quick reversal. The decision to raise rates was based on the forecasted inflation rate of 3.7 percent for the current year, with the last rate increase occurring in July 2023, when the range peaked at 5.25 to 5.5 percent.",
  "summary": "The Federal Reserve raised its target range to 3.75 to 4 percent on Wednesday, a unanimous decision that ends three years of easing and lifts the dollar. The post Federal Reserve Raises Rates to 4% in Its First Increase Since 2023 appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CBC Business",
        "title": "U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates for 1st time in 3 years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/u-s-federal-reserve-raises-interest-rates-for-1st-time-in-3-years",
        "published": "2026-09-16T19:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}