The Federal Reserve held interbank lending rates steady on Wednesday at a range of 4.25 to 4.5 percent despite some signs that the economy may be heading for a slowdown.

The decision to keep rates where they are was in line with market expectations. The CME FedWatch prediction algorithm based on futures contract prices registered on Wednesday a 99 percent probability that the Fed would hold rates steady.

The Fed has paused rate cuts for the second straight meeting since January. The central bank cut rates three times during the end of 2024 in response to weakening employment data and easing prices.

Since then, inflation has ticked back up toward a 3-percent annual increase, putting monetary policymakers in a squeeze between the rock of........

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