Federal Reserve expected to hold interest rates steady at 3.5%-3.75% range as FOMC navigates inflation concerns and softening job market in first 2026 meeting.

The Federal Reserve concluded its first meeting of 2026 by holding the federal funds rate (FFR) steady in the 3.50%-3.75% range.

It wasn't that long ago when the average mortgage interest rate was comfortably over 7%. In August 2023, for example, the average rate on a conventional 30-year term was 7.31%, marking the highest level since 2000. Interest rate cuts in 2024 only ...

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.1% from 6.09% last week.

On some occasions, a rate announcement from the Federal Reserve (even one that results in no change to the Fed Funds Rate) can cause a huge move in mortgage rates. Today was not one of those days, but in its defense,

Fed Chair Jerome Powell pauses interest-rate cuts in January 2026, citing economic strength. Markets react as FOMC holds rates steady amid political tension.

President Donald Trump says he will announce his pick for the next chair of the Federal Reserve next week, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation at the heart of the U.S economy. The announcement comes as Trump ramps up attacks on current Fed Chair Jerome Powell for refusing to slash interest rates as aggressively as the president demands.

The Federal Reserve pushed the pause button on its interest rate cuts, leaving its key rate unchanged at about 3.6% after lowering it three times last year.