Maria Aspin

Well, the Fed's interest rates set the bar for what consumers pay for all kinds of loans. Cars, credit cards, business loans, and lower rates mean, in general, lower loan prices for consumers. But yesterday, the Fed did exactly what had been expected. It held interest rates steady. And it also signaled that it's still on track to cut interest rates twice later this year.

Well, the Fed's interest rates set the bar for what consumers pay for all kinds of loans. Cars, credit cards, business loans, and lower rates mean, in general, lower loan prices for consumers. But yesterday, the Fed did exactly what had been expected. It held interest rates steady. And it also signaled that it's still on track to cut interest rates twice later this year.

That said, a lot has changed in the last several weeks. President Trump has been implementing a very aggressive and very chaotic trade policy with these on-again, off-again tariffs against some of the country's largest trading partners. We've seen all this uncertainty hit consumers and businesses and stock market investors.

That said, a lot has changed in the last several weeks. President Trump has been implementing a very aggressive and very chaotic trade policy with these on-again, off-again tariffs against some of the country's largest trading partners. We've seen all this uncertainty hit consumers and businesses and stock market investors.

That said, a lot has changed in the last several weeks. President Trump has been implementing a very aggressive and very chaotic trade policy with these on-again, off-again tariffs against some of the country's largest trading partners. We've seen all this uncertainty hit consumers and businesses and stock market investors.

And now the Fed is also saying that, yeah, it's dealing with more uncertainty around the economic outlook. The Fed isn't taking any major action yet, but it did say yesterday it's now expecting the economy to grow more slowly this year than it previously projected and inflation to grow faster.

And now the Fed is also saying that, yeah, it's dealing with more uncertainty around the economic outlook. The Fed isn't taking any major action yet, but it did say yesterday it's now expecting the economy to grow more slowly this year than it previously projected and inflation to grow faster.

And now the Fed is also saying that, yeah, it's dealing with more uncertainty around the economic outlook. The Fed isn't taking any major action yet, but it did say yesterday it's now expecting the economy to grow more slowly this year than it previously projected and inflation to grow faster.

It says the underlying economy is still strong, unemployment remains low, and prices are still relatively stable compared to a couple of years ago. This is Chair Powell yesterday.

It says the underlying economy is still strong, unemployment remains low, and prices are still relatively stable compared to a couple of years ago. This is Chair Powell yesterday.

It says the underlying economy is still strong, unemployment remains low, and prices are still relatively stable compared to a couple of years ago. This is Chair Powell yesterday.

Now, the Fed's job is to take the long-term view and to be steady. That becomes even more important in an uncertain environment. And Powell is also trying to maintain the Fed's independence from the White House at a time when President Trump wants to exert more control over independent agencies. So Powell is threading this needle of doing what's best for the overall economy.

Now, the Fed's job is to take the long-term view and to be steady. That becomes even more important in an uncertain environment. And Powell is also trying to maintain the Fed's independence from the White House at a time when President Trump wants to exert more control over independent agencies. So Powell is threading this needle of doing what's best for the overall economy.

Now, the Fed's job is to take the long-term view and to be steady. That becomes even more important in an uncertain environment. And Powell is also trying to maintain the Fed's independence from the White House at a time when President Trump wants to exert more control over independent agencies. So Powell is threading this needle of doing what's best for the overall economy.

without perhaps provoking the White House to take action against him or the Fed.

without perhaps provoking the White House to take action against him or the Fed.

without perhaps provoking the White House to take action against him or the Fed.

Powell was pretty mild in his comments overall, and that's kind of his job. As you know, some of the market sell-off we saw last week started when President Trump said he couldn't rule out a recession amid a lot of warnings about the economic damage his tariffs could do. And the argument Trump is making is that tariffs will be good for the U.S.

Powell was pretty mild in his comments overall, and that's kind of his job. As you know, some of the market sell-off we saw last week started when President Trump said he couldn't rule out a recession amid a lot of warnings about the economic damage his tariffs could do. And the argument Trump is making is that tariffs will be good for the U.S.

Powell was pretty mild in his comments overall, and that's kind of his job. As you know, some of the market sell-off we saw last week started when President Trump said he couldn't rule out a recession amid a lot of warnings about the economic damage his tariffs could do. And the argument Trump is making is that tariffs will be good for the U.S.