The US Federal Reserve raises the key interest rate by 0.5 percentage points. It became known Wednesday night.
This is the highest interest rate jump since 2000.
An increase in the key interest rate in the US was expected in advance, because prices have been rising sharply.
An increase in the key interest rate is the US Federal Reserve’s attempt to curb very high inflation.
Jump to 0.5
Chief strategist Anders Johansen in Danske Bank says the interest rate jump was expected.
– When unemployment is where they want to be and inflation is high, then interest rates should actually be close to a normal level. Now it is 0.25 percent. Then they have to raise interest rates, and maybe they should have already done so a while ago.
In Norway, the USA and many other countries, the central banks raised the key interest rate to around zero per cent during the corona pandemic.
With an economy that is on the road to recovery, interest rates are also being raised to a normal level.
While Norges Bank began this process in September last year, the US Federal Reserve waited until March with the first interest rate hike.
– They’re a little behind. Therefore, they set it up at 0.5 per cent, and not what is usual for central banks, which is 0.25 per cent.