When the Fed reduces its rate, it often — though not always — leads to lower costs for consumer and business borrowing, including for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. Yet financial markets also influence the level of longer-term rates and can keep them elevated even if the Fed reduces the shorter-term rate it controls.

The Fed also forecasted two quarter-point interest-rate cuts over the remainder of 2025, carrying over a prediction issued in March. Two additional quarter-point cuts will be made in 2026, as well as one quarter-point cut in 2027, the central bank said.

Trump called his appointee for Fed chair a "stupid person" Wednesday over the central bank's refusal to bend to his rate demands.