Summary

  • The US central bank raises interest rates for the first time in three years from 3.5%-3.75% to 3.75%-4%

  • "The plain fact is inflation is too high, and has been for too long," Fed chairman Kevin Warsh says

  • How will Trump react? The president has previously been highly critical of the Fed's interest rate moves, writes our North America correspondent

  • The Fed has been seeking to curb rising prices as the Iran war pushes up global oil prices, which have hit American consumers

  • What are interest rates? They set the cost of borrowing money, and influence mortgages, loans and savings but can also boost returns on savings. Central banks often hike up rates when they think inflation is too high

Media caption,
Watch: Federal Reserve chair says rate increase decision was 'responsible'
  1. How does the Fed's statement differ from last time?published at 20:16 BST

    Each time the Fed announces an interest-rate decision it puts out a brief statement on how it came that decision.

    Now that the press conference is over, we've looked at how today's statement differs from the one released in July.

    Here are the three biggest changes we noticed.

    "Geopolitical developments" vs "Middle East"

    • Today: While uncertainty remains elevated owing, in part, to geopolitical developments, domestic spending has been resilient...
    • July:Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East...

    Capital investment is "robust" vs "strong"

    • Today: Productivity growth is strong, and capital investment is robust
    • July:Productivity growth and capital investment are strong...

    "Timelier return to 2 percent goal"vs"supply shocks"

    • Today: Inflation remains elevated. Today's policy action will support a timelier return to the Committee's 2 percent goal...
    • July: Inflation remains elevated relative to the Committee's 2 percent goal, in part reflecting supply shocks that have driven price increases in certain sectors, including energy...
  2. Press conference ends with Warsh saying Fed can ease inflation without harming labour marketpublished at 20:10 BST

    Warsh is seen at the front of a podium with the US flag draped in the backgroundImage source, Reuters

    The last question to Warsh was about labour markets - particularly how higher rates might harm them.

    "I don't believe we need to do harm to the labour market to achieve our objectives," he says, adding that the Fed's two mandates (price stability and full employment) can work alongside each other.

    Ensuring price stability will help economic growth and help those who are the least well off, he says.

    With that, the press conference ends.

  3. Fed is looking closely at how AI could affect US economypublished at 20:05 BST

    The interior of a data center is seen. It is blue and pink hued with computers lighting upImage source, Getty Images

    A CNN journalist asks Warsh about AI and whether it could cause damage that affects the economy.

    Warsh says he has spent a lot of time thinking about this.

    The Fed cares about AI and its implications for demand and supply in the job market and the whole economy, he says.

    The chairman says the institution has established a task force that should report by the end of the year, to help it consider AI's implications for future policy.

    But policy decisions, he adds, are made by other parts of the government.

    "I'm going to leave it to them to make those political decisions," Warsh says, while the Fed focuses on the implications of those decisions that affect its work.

  4. Europe's central bank raised its rate - here's what Warsh says about itpublished at 20:03 BST

    Asked about rate hikes by the European Central Bank, the Fed chairman says he won't prejudge the decisions of the Frankfurt-based bank.

    He says in meetings with central bank leaders around the world, he has heard they are dealing with price pressures as well and those decisions affect the US, albeit to a lesser extent.

    "When foreign central banks make decisions... they are helping to squash inflation in their countries and there is spill over and spill backs in both directions," he notes.

  5. This was a pretty straight-forward decision in Warsh's eyespublished at 20:01 BST

    Michael Race
    Business and economics reporter

    "The plain fact is inflation is too high and has been for too long," Warsh told the press conference.

    That sentence neatly summarised the rationale behind the Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates.

    It's clear that Warsh sees easing price rises - restoring what he calls "price stability" for Americans - as his priority. He's happy with how the jobs market is looking and how the wider economy is holding up, despite the US-Iran war pushing up prices.

    Notably, Warsh chuckled in response to questions regarding what message this sent to President Trump, who called for rates to be cut.

    "I have got nothing for you on a discussion with the president," he said, and went on bat away similar questions.

    When it came to future rate decisions, Warsh revealed he had declined to offer his own projection.

    "I'm not in the forward guidance business," he said.

    There was a sober tone to his answers during this press conference. He has been clear that tackling inflation is the top priority of the Fed, and Trump, despite his objections, won't get in the way of that.

  6. Warsh asked how interest rate decision will affect lower-income Americanspublished at 19:58 BST

    A reporter asks how the least well-off Americans will be affected by a higher interest rate.

    The least well-off are those who don't own financial assets, he says, describing them as less than 50% of the country and living off their paychecks. Rising interest rates could potentially squeeze business owners, home buyers and bond holders.

    The Fed's job is to "ask ourselves if the country is running more or less at full employment", which he says they have done, and keeping prices stable so people can have real take-home pay.

  7. Will there be a post-decision meeting with the president?published at 19:56 BST

    Warsh, pictured here in May 2026 alongside Donald Trump, at his swearing in ceremonyImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Warsh, pictured here in May 2026 alongside Donald Trump, at his swearing in ceremony

    Warsh is asked again about Trump.

    "When was the last time you spoke with the president? Do you anticipate a post-decision meeting?" a journalist asks.

    Warsh laughs.

    "I don't have anything for you on discussions with the president, and I'm not a Wall Street newsletter," he says.

    "Part of the independence of the Federal Reserve is we stay in our lane. Independence is a two-way street. We'll let people that do trade policy and fiscal policy stay in their lane too.

    "That's how we can stand up here and call them the way we see them," he says.

  8. 'Trends matter, data points are noisy' - Fed chairpublished at 19:55 BST

    People mill about a mallImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    A retail sales report showed US shoppers are spending more

    Warsh says he "wasn't waiting breathlessly" on any data to make his decision referring to regularly scheduled government reports on the US economy, including one on retail sales posted this morning and the much-watched CPI report.

    "Trends matter, data points are noisy," he says. "Data point dependence is a dangerous preoccupation."

    This morning's report showed US shoppers are spending more, with retail sales rising 1.2% in August.

  9. Three main factors drove today's decisionpublished at 19:53 BST

    Warsh is asked what has changed since the last rate decision in July - when the committee chose to hold the interest rate.

    He lays out three points that informed the decision this time:

    1. A stronger economy: Data and labour markets show that the economy has strengthened, Warsh says
    2. Inflation trends: Summer inflation trends were "not passing the test", he notes
    3. And geopolitics: "There's no hiding from hotspots around the world," he says
  10. Warsh asked about Trump's possible reactionpublished at 19:52 BST

    Warsh was asked what his message was to Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for interest rates to be cut, not raised.

    "I've got nothing for you on a discussion with the president," he replies.

    He reiterates that the least well-off have the most to gain from stable prices, and that today's rate rise will "ensure stable prices".

    Trump has pushed for lower interest rates since beginning his second term, which led to a major, public dispute with Warsh's predecessor.

  11. Did the markets influence the Fed to raise rates?published at 19:50 BST

    Warsh says the rate hike today was based on the Fed's assessment of the strength of the economy and was not led to it based on the market forces.

    Most of those in financial markets had treated an increase as a nailed-on certainty, which was reflected in stock prices and bond yields this week.

  12. Rate increase was a 'sober' and 'serious' decisionpublished at 19:48 BST

    The decision to raise interest rates has been a possibility for months, since the beginning of his term, Warsh says.

    "The decision we made today was a sober decision, serious decision, responsible decision, one that we have been preparing for and thinking about in my 120 days here," he says.

    He adds that he's not going to prejudge decisions about future rate hikes.

  13. First question to Warsh focuses on conflict in Middle Eastpublished at 19:46 BST

    After his statement, Warsh begins taking questions from the media.

    He's first asked if he thinks rate rises can address the supply-side of inflationary pressures, namely the rising price of oil due to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

    Warsh says: "We cannot affect any individual price, whether it be oil prices, whether it be foodstuffs at the grocery store."

    "But what we can do and will do is ensure that any change in relative prices don't broaden out," he adds.

  14. Fed has a mandate to help stabilise prices - Warshpublished at 19:44 BST

    Kevin Warsh gestures with his hands at the podiumImage source, Reuters

    The Fed has role in stabilising prices, Warsh says referring to one of the central bank's dual mandates.

    "Those who are least well off have the most to gain from a durable expansion, a solid labour market, and stable prices," he adds.

    And with that he opens the floor for questions.

  15. How does the Fed's decision compare to other countries?published at 19:43 BST

    Warsh now turns his attention to other advanced economies, saying most are also facing pressures.

    "Our decision reflects our best judgement," he says.

    Last week, the European Central Bank raised its main interest to 2.5%.

  16. Fed must be confident inflation is easing, Warsh sayspublished at 19:42 BST

    Warsh says "we must be confident that underlying inflation is moving to our objective, clearly and at sufficient speed".

    Today, he adds, the FOMC decided that "this standard has not been satisfied".

    • What is inflation again? It's the increase in the price of something over time. For example, if a bottle of milk costs $1 but is $1.05 a year later, then annual milk inflation is 5%
  17. 'Plain fact is inflation is too high, for too long'published at 19:41 BST
    Breaking

    Warsh says there is "an attitude of optimism" within the Federal Reserve leadership however there inflation remains a persistent issue.

    "For more than five years, inflation has been running above target," he says. "The plain fact is that inflation is too high and has been for too long. This summer's inflation readings do not tell me that underlying trends have improved."

  18. Fed says rise should bring 'timelier return' to 2% inflation goalpublished at 19:40 BST

    After announcing the news we saw a few minutes ago - that the federal interest rate has been raised - Warsh then reads the statement the Fed released.

    As a reminder, that statement said:

    • Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace
    • Uncertainty remains elevated, owing in part to geopolitical developments
    • Domestic spending has been resilient
    • Job gains have kept pace with the workforce
    • Inflation is still elevated, and the Fed hopes today's action should support a "timelier return" to its 2% inflation goal
  19. Fed chair Warsh is speaking now - watch live abovepublished at 19:32 BST
    Breaking

    Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh holds a press conference following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market CommitteeImage source, Reuters

    Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh is speaking now - he'll be taking questions too.

    We'll bring you the latest here, but you can also follow along by pressing watch live above.

  20. Fed chairman to take questions shortlypublished at 19:25 BST

    For the first time in three years, the US federal interest rate has risen.

    In just a few minutes, Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh will speak to the press about the decision, which was unanimous among the Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC).

    Reporters will undoubtedly have a lot of questions for Warsh, especially considering repeated pushes by President Trump to keep the rate down.

    We will bring you the key lines here, and you can also watch live by clicking the play button above.

    A chart shows the interest rates over history and shows the last time they were raised was in July 2023