#PowellRemarks

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a cautious yet hawkish message on June 18, 2025, holding interest rates steady at **4.25–4.50%** . He emphasized persistent inflation pressures—forecasting it to hover around 3% by year-end—largely due to trade tariffs and geopolitical risks .

Powell also highlighted the importance of robust economic data, warning that cuts to critical statistics could impair the Fed’s decision-making . This underscores the central bank’s reliance on incoming macroeconomic indicators amid ongoing uncertainty.

Investors reacted with mixed sentiment: U.S. stocks dipped during the press conference, while the Fed’s dot‑plot hinted at two possible rate cuts later in 2025—but with increasing caution, as 7 of 19 officials now project no cuts this year .