Fed Doesn't Mess With Rates and Doesn't Expect to in 2020

It removes language about 'uncertainties'

By Newser Editors, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 11, 2019 1:43 PM CST

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Fed Leaves Rates Alone, Expects More of Same in 2020 — A television screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shows the rate decision of the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

The Federal Reserve had signaled a pause was coming, and on Wednesday that's what we got. Following a series of three rate cuts, the Fed at its December meeting kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at between 1.5% and 1.75%. And should their expectations for the economy play out, we likely won't see any rate changes in 2020, reports the Wall Street Journal.

CNBC has a redlined copy of what changed in the Fed's latest statement as compared to October here, and the Journal calls out one edit in particular: The removal of the phrase "uncertainties about this outlook remain" in a portion about the current monetary policy being "appropriate to support sustained expansion of economic activity." The AP's take: "That suggests that the Fed is less worried about the impact of the US-China trade war or overseas developments." (Read more Federal Reserve stories.)