The Fed hikes interest rates by a quarter point and hints at another increase this year

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark lending rate by a quarter point Wednesday, lifting interest rates to their highest level in 22 years.

It's the 11th rate increase since the Fed began its inflation fight in March 2022, bringing the lending rate to a range of 5.25-5.5%, and comes just one month after the central bank hit pause in order to assess the state of the economy after the failures of three regional banks since the spring.

Fed officials are estimating one more rate hike this year, according to their latest set of projections. Inflation's steady slowdown in recent months has been encouraging for American consumers and businesses, but officials reiterated in their post-meeting statement that "inflation remains elevated" and that the Fed "remains highly attentive to inflation risks," suggesting that another rate hike remains on the table.

"In determining the extent of additional policy firming that may be appropriate to return inflation to 2% over time, the Committee will take into account the cumulative tightening of monetary policy, the lags with which monetary policy affects economic activity and inflation, and economic and financial developments," the Fed's statement said.

This story is developing and will be updated.

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