Financial conditions are tightening after SVB’s collapse and could slow the economy, Powell says PUBLISHED WED, MAR 22 20233:53 PM EDTUPDATED 2 HOURS AGO thumbnail Jesse Pound
KEY POINTS “Financial conditions seem to have tightened, and probably by more than the traditional indexes say,” Powell said. The Fed hiked its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, but its projections called for just one more hike over the rest of the year. The central bank chief said that tighter financial conditions caused by more stringent lending decisions from banks could have a similar impact as further hikes from the Fed.