Fed stays hypervigilant on inflation while ‘crushing consumer buying power’

Inflation clearly is the focus of the Federal Reserve nowadays. Chair Jerome Powell said “inflation” 20 times during his opening statement after policymakers decided unanimously on Wednesday to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5.25% to 5.5%.

“We understand the hardship that high inflation is causing, and we remain strongly committed to bringing inflation back down to our 2 percent goal,” Powell began during that opening statement. “Price stability is the responsibility of the Federal Reserve. Without price stability, the economy ...