Federal Bank officials USA (Fed) are expected to keep unchanged interest rates today, giving themselves more time to reduce inflation and appreciate how the president’s policies Donald Trump They will affect the economy, according to Bloomberg agency.

The cessation of interest rates will come after three consecutive reductions since September, with interest rates reduced by a total percentage point, with their range now at 4.25% to 4.5%.

Several officials have said that they expect fewer interest rates this year, following figures showing that the US economy is on solid ground and that inflation is more durable than expected. December data for the preferred Fed inflation index, the price index of personal consumer costs, are expected to be announced on Friday.

In his statements after the Fed announcement, the Bank President Jerome Powell It is almost certain that he will be pressured by reporters about how he and his colleagues take into account Trump’s policies and proposed plans in their prospects for the economy. Fed officials are not going to publish updated forecasts until the March policy meeting.

However, the minutes of the December meeting showed that “several” participants included cases of Trump’s potential plans and “almost all participants” said the upward risks to inflation have increased.

Political pressure

Powell may also be called upon to respond to Trump’s final points against the Central Bank.

“I think I know interest rates much better than them and I think I know them much better than the one who is primarily responsible for making this decision.”Trump said on January 23, in an obvious reference to Powell.

Powell has previously contradicted or ignored Trump’s statements about monetary policy, but these comments, which come in the first week of Trump’s return to the White House, suggest that the head of the Fed could be faced with more pressure From ever before the new government.

“Fed will probably have to face Trump’s efforts to influence monetary policy, both through appointments and possibly through other efforts to exert more influence on the institution.”said Michael Feroli, head of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the US. He predicted that this week’s meeting would be “a boring start in a hectic year for the Fed”.