Interest rates are expected to rise again in November, but there are signs that the pace may slow slightly.
According to reports in the Wall Street Journal U.S. Federal Reserve officials will likely introduce a fourth 75 basis point rate hike at their next meeting on November 1-2. However, they will also discuss lowering the December rate hike, which will effectively slow the process.
In a speech this morning, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said the Board of Governors will have “a very thoughtful discussion of the pace of tightening at our next meeting“. Some officials want to refrain from raising interest rates as early as early next year. However, other officials argue that rate increases are necessary for the economy.
The Fed has already raised interest rates by 75 basis points three times this year, in September, July and June. Those increases have put the interest rate between 3 percent and 3.25 percent.
Patrick Harker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, described his expectations for the end of the year. In a statement quoted by Reuters, he predicted that the inflation rate will be “well above 4 percent by the end of the year“.
A rise in interest rates will likely impact the crypto-currency market. Although crypto-currencies are often touted as a hedge against inflation, the Fed’s recent interest rate hikes have corresponded with a decline in crypto-currency prices. However, the crypto-currency market has been relatively stable for weeks, despite wilder moves in traditional equity markets.
The crypto market as a whole is up 0.2 percent over the 24 hours, according to data from CoinGecko.