The chairman of the US central bank (Fed) Jerome Powell characterized today Wednesday as possible a further increase in interest rates until the end of the year.

Responding to a related question during a three-hour hearing before a House committee, Powell said he would not call the Fed’s recent decision to keep interest rates unchanged (between 5% and 5.25%) a “pause” after 10 consecutive hikes, noting that “almost everyone” on the Fed’s monetary policy committee sees it as appropriate the further increase in interest rates “at a more moderate pace” until the end of the year. Most US central bank officials are predicting two more rate hikes, by 25 basis points each.

As Powell explained, while inflation has been contained, it remains “well above the 2% target.” “We still have a long way to go, but we are making progress,” he stressed.

Following 10 consecutive increases, the Fed decided on June 14 to keep interest rates steady (at 5-5.25%), after 10 consecutive hikes, although most of its members have made it clear that they will not hike again until the end of 2023.

The Fed’s next meeting is scheduled for on July 25-26.