From mortgage rates to auto loans and credit cards, here’s a look at how the Fed's March interest rate decision may affect your finances.

The Fed did not change policy, but it did change expectations. The March 2026 FOMC meeting surprised markets with a hawkish dot plot.

Markets turned cautious on March 18 as traders positioned ahead of the Federal Reserve’s 2:00 p.m. rate decision, a key macro event expected to shape near-term direction across risk assets. Crypto prices drifted lower into the announcement window,

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he plans to stay at the central bank until a Justice Department investigation into him and the central bank is complete.

Jerome Powell said he does not plan to leave the Federal Reserve during the Department of Justice investigation and would serve as chair pro tempore if needed.

While no one expected the Fed to cut — much less hike — at this meeting, the market always looks for clues about what's next.

By David Lawder March 18 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday described significant challenges in bringing inflation down, from persistent tariff-driven price hikes to Iran war-driven energy price hikes that the U.